Rubinstein, Malick, Sparks and More Join WILLIAMSTOWN THEATRE FEST Summer Casting

Artistic Director Nicholas Martin has announced the casting for the second Nikos Stage show of the 2009 season, What is the Cause of Thunder? by Noah Haidle (Saturn Returns, Mr. Marmalade) playing July 22-August 2.

The two-person cast features Betty Gilpin (Boy's Life, Good Boys and True) and Wendie Malick ("Just Shoot Me," Confessions of a Shopaholic, Blithe Spirit).

The design team for What is the Cause of Thunder? features set designer Alexander Dodge, costume designer Nikki Moody, lighting designer Jeff Croiter, and sound design and original music by Fitz Patton. The production stage manager is David Sugarman.

In What Is The Cause Of Thunder?, after 27 years on the same soap opera, Ada is starting to confuse her art and her life. But after so many years of acting, her art is her life. Noah Haidle's poignant comedy brings us the hilarity of day-time drama alongside the harsher, but often equally funny, realities of life.

On the Main Stage, Paul Sparks (Hedda Gabler, Take Me Out) will join the previously announced Nate Corddry, Stephen Kunken, and Debra Jo Rupp in True West by Sam Shepard, directed by Daniel Goldstein. True West runs on the Main Stage from July 15 - 26.

John Rubinstein (Tony Award - Children of a Lesser God, Love Letters) completes the cast of The Torch-Bearers by George Kelly, adapted and directed by Dylan Baker, joining the previously announced Becky Ann Baker, Yusef Bulos, John Doherty, Katie Finneran, Phillip Goodwin, Jessica Hecht, Edward Herrmann, Dana Ivey, Lizbeth MacKay, Marian Seldes, and James Waterston. The production runs on the Main Stage from July 29- August 9.

In Quartermaine's Terms, Ann Dowd (The Seagull, Doubt) joins the previously announced Jeremy Beck, Morgan Hallett, John Horton, Simon Jones, Stephen Kunken, and Jefferson Mays in Simon Gray's play, directed by Maria Aitken. Jayne Atkinson has had to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts. Quartermaine's Terms runs on the Main Stage from August 12-23

Ticketing information for the 2009 Williamstown Theatre Festival Season can be obtained online at www.wtfestival.org or by calling 413-597-3400.

Continuing our 55-year history and under the artistic direction of Nicholas Martin, the Williamstown Theatre Festival brings award-winning actors, directors and playwrights to the Berkshires, engaging a loyal audience of both residents and summer visitors. A WTF season covers a broad range of theatrical endeavors, revisiting classic plays with exciting new productions on our Main Stage, developing and nurturing bold new works on our Nikos Stage, and offering audiences a rich array of cultural events including Free Theatre, Late-Night Cabarets, readings, workshops, and educational programs like the Greylock Theatre Project-a program for children in neighboring North Adams. While best known for our acclaimed productions, WTF is also home to unparalleled training and professional development programs serving new generations of aspiring theatre artists and managers.

WTF was honored with the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 2002.

Williamstown Theatre Festival

2009 SEASON SUMMARY

MAIN STAGE:

Children

By A.R. Gurney

Directed by John Tillinger

July 1 - 12, 2009

True West

By Sam Shepard

Directed by Daniel Goldstein

July 15 - 26, 2009

The Torch-Bearers

By George Kelly

Adapted and directed by Dylan Baker

July 29 - August 9, 2009

Quartermaine's Terms

By Simon Gray

Directed by Maria Aitken

August 12 - 23, 2009

NIKOS STAGE:

Knickerbocker

By Jonathan Marc Sherman

Directed by Nicholas Martin

July 8 - 19, 2009

What Is The Cause Of Thunder?

By Noah Haidle

Directed by Justin Waldman

July 22 - August 2, 2009

Caroline In Jersey

By Melinda Lopez

Directed by Amanda Charlton

August 5 - 16, 2009

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.