Christopher Sieber, Jordan Dean & More to Star in A.R.T.'s THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD; Performances to Begin 12/11

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus, iwill present the second production of the 2013/14 Season: David Farr's The Heart of Robin Hood, directed by Gisli Örn Gardarsson, to begin performances Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge. The production runs through Sunday, January 19, 2014.

The notorious Robin Hood and his band of outlaws steal from the rich, but they do not share their spoils with the poor and are unloved by the people, who must also pay unfair taxes to the evil Prince John as he plots to steal his brother's crown. In this time of chaos and fear, it is down to Marion to boldly protect the poor and convince Robin that he must listen to his heart if they are to save the country. This spectacular new rendition of a great English legend was written by the Royal Shakespeare Company's Associate Director David Farr and directed by Icelandic director Gisli Örn Gardarsson. The Heart of Robin Hood played at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, during its 2011/12 season.

The cast includes Jordan Dean (Mamma Mia on Broadway, As You Like It at NY Shakespeare Festival, and Kenneth Branagh's Macbeth at the Manchester International Festival) as Robin and Christina Bennett Lind (Ride the Tiger, Long Wharf Theatre; Bianca Montgomery in ABC's "All My Children") as Marion. The are joined by Claire Candela (Once on Broadway) and Andrew Cekala (Pippin and Marie Antoinette at A.R.T.) and as the children Sarah and Jethro Summers, Jeremy Crawford (Disney's Alladin and Godspell at West Virginia Public Theatre) as Little John, Zachary Eisenstat (Superior Donuts at Lyric Stage, The Donkey Show at A.R.T.) as Will Scarlett, Andy Grotelueschen (Into the Woods at McCarter Theatre, "Elementary") as Much, Laura Sheehy (Cabaret on Broadway and Balm in Gilead at Atlantic Theatre) as Plug, Christopher Sieber (Shrek on Broadway, Spamalot on Broadway and West End, Tony nomination) as Pierre, Louis Tucci (If You Could See: The Alice Austen Story at Sundog Theatre, "War of the Worlds") as Makepeace, Damian Young (All My Sons on Broadway, "Person of Interest") as Prince John, and Katrina Yaukey (War Horse and Cabaret on Broadway and tour) as Alice.

Set design is by Borkur Jonsson, costume design by Emma Ryott, lighting design by Bjorn Helgason, and sound design by Jonathan Deans. Selma Björnsdóttir is the Associate Director and in charge of Aerial Creation.

David Farr is the Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He is co writer of the RSC's Night of the Soul, andMetamorphosis (Lyric Hammersmith), The UN Inspector (National Theatre), The Nativity (Young Vic), and Elton John's Glasses (West End). He directed Twelfth Night. A Winter's Tale, The Tempest. King Lear, and The Homecoming for the RSC, and adapted and directed numerous productions for theaters throughout England. He also held the posts of Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, London; the Bristol Old Vic; and The Lyric HammersmithTheatre. His film and television credits include Hannah for Focus Features, and the BBC Series Spooks.

Gisli Örn Gardarrson was recently seen in Metamorphosis atArts Emerson, which he co-adapted and co-directed with David Farr, and alsoplayed the lead role of Gregor. The Icelandic born actor/writer/director is a founder of the internationally acclaimed theatre and film company Vesturport. Founded in 2001, the company has performed in most major theatre venues around the world. He directed the critically acclaimed Romeo and Juliet (playing Romeo) at the Reykjavik City Theatre, which transferred to the Young Vic Theatre and eventually to the West End in London in 2004. He has collaborated with musicians Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on Woyzeck (Barbican, London), Metamorphosis (Lyric Hammersmith, London), and Faust. His acting credits in England also include A Matter of Life and Death at the National Theatre and Don John in an adaptation of Don Juan at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Gardarrson has produced five feature films, Parents, Brim, CountryWedding (co-producer), King's Road (co-producer), and Children, which he co-wrote and starred in, and for which he was awarded the European Film Award Shooting Star at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride