When last they met it was under the desert moon in Caesar and Cleopatra. Now Christopher Plummer and Nikki M. James will be reunited on a distant island, as Prospero and Ariel in Shakespeare’s moving drama The Tempest.
For the production, artistic director Des McAnuff has pulled together the artistic team behind the wildly successful Caesar and Cleopatra: McAnuff will direct on the Festival stage, with set design by Robert Brill, costume design by Paul Tazewell and lighting design by Michael Walton.
Also cast in The Tempest are James Blendick as Gonzalo, Bruce Dow as Trinculo, Peter Hutt as Alonso, Dion Johnstone as Caliban, Trish Lindström as Miranda, Gareth Potter as Ferdinand, Timothy D. Stickney as Sebastian, John Vickery as Antonio and Geraint Wyn Davies as Stephano.
“We have put together the most amazingly gifted company of actors for next season, steadily building on what we started in 2008,” said McAnuff.
“It is a great privilege to work with such a gifted, skillful and inspiring group. The true depth of our troupe is shown by the number of wonderful actors who will be playing supporting roles in addition to their principal parts.
“This richness of talent across the board underscores a commitment from everyone that the company comes first. If we were a baseball team, I’d be able to say we have tremendous bench strength!”
Festival Theatre
McAnuff is also directing As You Like It at the Festival Theatre, with Brent Carver playing Jaques, as previously announced.
Joining him will be Ben Carlson as Touchstone and Andrea Runge as Rosalind. Lucy Peacock will play Audrey, with Cara Ricketts as Celia, and Tom Rooney as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior.
Debra Hanson will return to the Festival to do the set design. Dana Osborne will be the costume designer. Michael Walton will be the lighting designer.
John Doyle’s main-stage production of Kiss Me, Kate will feature Juan Chioran as Fred Graham and Monique Lund as Lilli Vanessi. Chilina Kennedy will play Lois Lane. Musical director for the production is Franklin Brasz and choreographer is Tracey Flye. It will be designed by David Farley.
Ethan McSweeny, making his debut at the Festival Theatre with Dangerous Liaisons, will work with designer Santo Loquasto, lighting designer Robert Thomson and a stellar cast. Tom McCamus will play Le Vicomte de Valmont opposite Seana McKenna as La Marquise de Merteuil. Sara Topham will play La Présidente de Tourvel.
Martha Henry has been cast as Mme de Rosemonde, Bethany Jillard as Cécile Volanges, and Yanna McIntosh as Mme de Volanges.
Avon Theatre
Chilina Kennedy, returning from her triumphant turn as Maria in West Side Story, will play the title role in Evita opposite Juan Chioran’s Juan Perón. Vince Staltari will play Magaldi. Kennedy will once again be working with director Gary Griffin, who received great acclaim for his direction of West Side Story in 2009.
This time he will be directing at the Avon Theatre, with musical director Rick Fox, choreographer Tracey Flye, set designer Douglas Paraschuk, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, and lighting designer Kevin Fraser.
Michael Therriault will return from his successful New York run as Irving Berlin in Tin Pan Alley Rag to play the title role in Peter Pan, opposite Tom McCamus’s Captain Hook. Paul Dunn will play John and Sara Topham will play Wendy. The production will be directed by Tim Carroll with designer Carolyn M. Smith and lighting designer Kevin Fraser.
Tom Patterson Theatre
Marti Marden’s production of The Winter’s Tale at the Tom Patterson Theatre will feature Ben Carlson as Leontes opposite Yanna McIntosh’s Hermione. Seana McKenna will play Paulina.
The production will also feature Cara Ricketts as Perdita and Tom Rooney as Autolycus. It will be designed by John Pennoyer with lighting design by Louise Guinand.
Brent Carver will be featured in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, along with Mike Nadajewski. The production will be directed by Stafford Arima with musical director Laura Burton, costume design by Jessica Poirier-Chang and lighting design by Steven Hawkins.
Additional casting has not yet been confirmed.
Lucy Peacock and Tom Rooney will come together to play Nana and the Narrator in Michel Tremblay’s For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again. The production will be directed by Chris Abraham with design by Julie Fox and lighting design by Leigh Ann Vardy.
Studio Theatre
Geraint Wyn Davies will present the one-man show Do Not Go Gentle, under the direction of Dean Gabourie, as previously announced.
The two gentlemen of Verona, Valentine and Proteus, will be played by Dion Johnstone and Gareth Potter. Directed by Dean Gabourie, the production will also feature Nikki M. James as Julia and Claire Lautier as Silvia. Bruce Dow will return to the company to play Speed and Robert Persichini will play Launce. The set designer will be Lorenzo Savoini, who will also design the lighting. Tamara Marie Kucheran will be the costume designer.
Evan Buliung will return to the Festival company to play Mac King of Thieves, a new play by George F. Walker. Songs and music by John Roby with lyrics by George F. Walker. Laura Condlln will play Polly. The production will be directed by Jennifer Tarver with musical direction by John Roby, design by Peter Hartwell and lighting design by Michael Walton.
“We look forward to welcoming old friends and new as they join us to create a sensational season of theatre,” said general director Antoni Cimolino. “I know all of our audience members who have followed the careers of our actors will be delighted with the challenges and opportunities that this season’s casting provides.
“As well, our audiences can look forward to meeting new personalities that will grow in importance to the Festival and to them in the years ahead.”
Tickets for the 2010 season go on sale to members of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival November 16. Tickets through Front Of The Line by American Express go on sale December 12. Ticket sales to the general public begin January 9.
