Douglas Carter Beane's FAIRY CAKES Gets World Premiere at Scranton Shakespeare Festival This Weekend

FAIRY CAKES -- a new play by 5-time Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane, with music by Lewis Flinn -- will be given its world-premiere as one of three productions that comprise the summer season at the Scranton Shakespeare Festival in Scranton, Pa, it has been announced by Michael Bradshaw Flynn, the company's producing artistic director.

Scheduled for two performances today, July 25 and tomorrow, the 26th at 6 p.m. in the Royal Theatre at the University of Scranton's McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts (500 Linden St.) in Scranton, Pa., FAIRY CAKES is the second of three productions on the Scranton Shakespeare 2014 schedule: the season kicks off July 11-12 and 18-19 with performances of TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Adam Fitzgerald in an outdoor setting at the city's Nay Aug Park (500 Arthur Ave.), and concludes with a staging of Gilbert and Sullivan's musical THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE August 8-9-10, directed by Michael Flynn and Marc de la Concha in the Royal Theatre. All Scranton Shakespeare Performances begin at 6 p.m.and are open free to the public.

With choregraphy by Tony nominee Josh Rhodes (CINDERELLA) and directed by Mr. Carter Beane, FAIRY CAKES is written in rhymes and couplets and depicts what happens to Shakespeare's fairies when they are off stage in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Suffice it to say, they turn up as fairies in Cinderella, Pinnochio, Sleeping Beauty and as the ubiquitous tooth fairy. Not to be outdone by a bunch of fairies, Shakespeare's own Puck participates in the play's comic pursuits.

FAIRY CAKES has costumes by 2-time Tony nominee Gregory Gale, with scenic and lighting design by Rich Larson.

Featured in the cast of FAIRY CAKES are Grant Chamberlin, Megan Stewart, Tamara Sevunts, Lauren Renahan, Billie Aken-Tyers, Gerome Samonte, Daniel Redfern, Jonathan J. Stephens, Pedro Almeida, Conor Ling, Tamara Ratcliffe, James Physick, Emmie Gelat, Katey Lewis and Michael Bradshaw Flynn.

Now in its 3rd year, Scranton Shakespeare Festival was co-founded by Michael Flynn and this season expands its offerings, up from one each the past two years to this season's trio.

Douglas Carter Beane is a 5-time Tony nominee for his book for the musicals CINDERELLA now in its 2nd smash year on Broadway, LYSISTRATA JONES, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, SISTER ACT and XANADU. He is a native of Scranton's sister city, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and spends summers there.

For more information about Scranton Shakespeare Festival call 570-614-3313 or visit www.scrantonshakespearefestival.org.