About

Developed as a producing body for their inaugural Power Plays Festival in the summer of 2026, poor players productions is self-funded and independently run by Erik Schiller and Kate McDuffie. They plan to produce more theatre when they can afford it.

simplicitas et officium

For never anything can be amiss/
When simpleness and duty tender it.

William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A man and woman hugging and smiling against a blue background, with the woman gently pressing her hand against the man's cheek.

Erik Schiller

Erik Schiller (he/him), a child of two biology professors, studied English Literature and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he also received his initial training as an actor and writer. He has since performed roles on stage and in independent film and television- favorite past roles include Dromio (the one from Syracuse) in Comedy of Errors (Nashville Shakespeare Festival), Don in It's All in the Timing (Yellow Rose Productions), and Zombie-who-gets-an-axe-to-the-face in Ghosts and Zombies (Akvavit Theatre). He is the author of two plays, "The Mediums" and "The Murder In Miller's Court". Other areas of interest include bioethics, environmentalism and sustainability, the life and times of Shakespeare, and the history of radical and revolutionary politics.

Gif with various images of Erik Schiller.
Gif with various images of Kate McDuffie.

Kate McDuffie

Kate McDuffie (she/her) is a career arts administrator, part-time classical singer, occasional actor and avid volunteer. Formerly a performing arts educator, Kate taught music and drama at Wolcott College Prep — a high school designed for bright students with learning differences — and directed her talented and amazing students in Antigone (Sophocles), Middletown (Eno), A Midsummer Nights Dream (Shakespeare), The Bear and The Proposal (Chekov) in addition to many performing arts showcases. She has been a proud facilitator with ABLE — Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations since 2019, currently serving on ABLE’s Program Advisory Council. Kate is also honored to serve on the Board of Directors at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company where she chairs the Engagement Committee.

A man and a woman posing together in a room with light-colored walls. The man is standing on the left, wearing a dark green polo shirt, and has brown hair and a beard. The woman is seated on a wooden chair, wearing a dark blazer and a striped shirt, with long, curly dark hair. They are both smiling, and the woman has her hands resting on her lap.

Photo credits

Headshots with Tyler Core (“About” banner; Kate + Erik duo photos; Kate singing with blue lighting)
Jeff Kurysz (Kate and Natalia singing at an ABLE performance)
Scarlett Cook Photography (Kate by the Avon river)
Elliot Mandel (Kate in a red shirt raising her hand)