(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company is proud to announce its 2019 Summer Season casting. Under the direction of Artistic Director Allyn Burrows the Company’s Summer Season includes a roster of audience beloved artists, critically-acclaimed actors, and a host of newcomers. The season opens Memorial Day Weekend with Pulitzer Prize finalist The Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan, directed by founding Artistic Director Tina Packer.
Under the theme, “The Strings of the Heart,” the 2019 Season includes Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Taming of the Shrew, and, in a special work-shop production, Coriolanus; with the Tony Award nominated play The Children by Lucy Kirkwood; Pulitzer Prize winner Topdog/Underdog by MacArthur Foundation Fellowship recipient Suzan-Lori Parks; and Time Stands Still by Obie Award winner Donald Margulies.
“We are over the moon about the casts we have assembled for the upcoming shows this summer season,” said Allyn Burrows, Artistic Director. “Our artists, combined with our creative team of designers and directors, are sure to cook up some powerful productions!”
2019 play titles, cast lists, press openings, and performance run dates for each production are as follows:
THE WAVERLY GALLERY
By Kenneth Lonergan
Directed by Tina Packer
Cast: Elizabeth Aspenlieder* (Ellen Fine), David Bertoldi (Don Bowman), David Gow* (Daniel Reed), Annette Miller* (Gladys Green), and Michael F. Toomey* (Howard Fine)
MAY 23 – JULY 14
Press Nights: Sunday, May 26 at 3pm or Saturday, June 8 at 7:30pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
TWELFTH NIGHT
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Allyn Burrows
Cast: Miles Anderson* (Malvolio), Martin Jason Asprey* (Antonio / Sea Captain), Steven Barkhimer* (Sir Toby Belch), Gregory Boover* (Feste), Nigel Gore* (Andrew Aguecheek), Deaon Griffin-Pressley* (Sebastian), Cloteal L. Horne* (Olivia), Ella Loudon* (Viola) Bella Merlin* (Maria) and TBA (Orsino)
JULY 2 – AUGUST 4
Press Nights: Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 or Wednesday, July 10th at 7:30pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse
THE CHILDREN
By Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by James Warwick
Cast: Ariel Bock* (Rose), Jonathan Epstein* (Robin) and Diane Prusha* (Hazel)
JULY 18 – AUGUST 18
Press Nights: Sunday, July 21 at 3pm or Thursday, July 25th at 7:30pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Kelly Galvin
Cast: Zoa Archer (Ensemble), Dara Brown (Tranio), Fiona Herter (Ensemble), Devante Owens (Lucentio), Bella Pelz (Bianca), Caitlin Kraft (Grumio/Widow), Daniel Light (Hortensio/Vincentio), Kirsten Peacock (Kate), Cedar Potter (Ensemble), Nick Nudler (Petruchio), and Jordan Mann (Gremio/Curtis)
JULY 9 – AUGUST 17
Press Nights: Thursday, July 11 at 6pm or Saturday, July 13 at 11am at The Dell at the Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home (outdoors)
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Kevin G. Coleman
Cast: Martin Jason Asprey* (Mr. Ford), Steven Barkhimer* (Mr. Page), Gregory Boover* (Fenton),
MaConnia Chesser* (Mistress Page), Nigel Gore* (Falstaff), Cloteal L. Horne* (Mistress Quickly). Jennie M. Jadow* (Mistress Ford), Zoë Laiz (Anne Page), Ella Loudon* (TBA), Madeleine Rose Maggio (TBA), and Bella Merlin* (Hostess)
AUGUST 8 – SEPTEMBER 1
Press Nights: Sunday, August 11 at 5pm or Wednesday August 14 at 5pm in the Roman Garden Theatre (outdoors)
TOPDOG/UNDERDOG
By Suzan-Lori Parks
Directed by Regge Life
Cast: Deaon Griffin-Pressley* (Booth) and TBA (Lincoln)
AUGUST 13 – SEPTEMBER 8
Press Nights: Friday, August 16 at 8pm or Wednesday, August 21 at 2pm in the Tina Packer Playhouse
CORIOLANUS
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Daniela Varon
Cast: Allyn Burrows* (Aufidius), Brandon E. Burton (TBA), Rory Hammond (Virgilia), Tina Packer* (Volumnia) and John Douglas Thompson* (Coriolanus)
AUGUST 21 – 25
* Limited Run *
TIME STANDS STILL
By Donald Margulies
Directed by Nicole Ricciardi
Cast: Caroline Calkins (Mandy Bloom), Tamara Hickey* (Sarah Goodwin), David Joseph* (James Dodd), and Mark Zeisler* (Richard Erlich)
SEPTEMBER 13 – OCTOBER 13
Press Nights: Sunday, September 15 at 3pm or Saturday September 21 at 3pm in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre
Tickets
Tickets are now on sale, Shakespeare & Company will once again offer a 40% discount to full-time, year-round Berkshire County residents on select days ( July – August: BCRD is valid for performances Tuesday-Thursday; and for Sunday evenings. September — June: BCRD is valid for performances except Saturday matinee and Saturday evening performances); this discount can be redeemed by calling or visiting the Box Office during posted hours. The Tina Packer Playhouse, Roman Garden Theatre and the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre are wheelchair accessible. For more information on our summer performance season, or our year-round programming, call the Box Office at (413) 637-3353 or visit www.shakespeare.org.
Gala
For this Shakespeare & Company’s 2019 Gala, Artistic Director Allyn Burrows has invited Julia Trumbull and Academy Award-winning film-maker and visual effects pioneer, Doug Trumbull (2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner, Star Trek: The Motion Picture), to share their vision and invention of cutting-edge film technology. The evening will mix Trumbull’s revolutionary film-making techniques with the timeless storytelling of Shakespeare, and live musical performance by renowned cellist Yehuda Hanani (Close Encounters with Music). Following performances in the Tina Packer Playhouse, guests will join the artists for a delectable dinner from SoMa Catering and spirited dance party in the tented courtyard. This unique Gala Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 29, with cocktails in Shakespeare’ Garden beginning at 5:30pm. For more information and to reserve seats, patrons may call Natalie Johnsonius Neubert at 413-637-1199 ext. 180.
Photos
2019 Season Photos
About Shakespeare & Company
Located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the largest Shakespeare Festivals in the country. Founded in 1978, the organization attracts over 40,000 patrons annually. The Company is also home to Shakespeare & Company’s internationally renowned Center for Actor Training and nationally renowned and award-winning Education Program. More information is available at www.shakespeare.org.
