Shakespeare Theatre of NJ Opens 2010 Season With TAMING OF THE SHREW 6/2-27

The Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey begins its 2010 season with one of William Shakespeare's most popular comedies - The Taming of the Shrew. Directed by Bonnie J. Monte, who is celebrating her 20th Anniversary Season as artistic director of The Shakespeare Theatre, The Taming of the Shrew begins performances on June 2 and continues through June 27. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Discount ticket packages for the entire 6-play season, or 5 and 4 choose your own ticket packages are also available.

Shakespeare's raucous and lusty comedy features two wild-spirited, stubborn rebels - Petruchio and Katerina - who over the course of their extraordinary courtship, end up being a most extraordinary couple, tamed by the only force capable of taming them - love! The Taming of the Shrew was the inspiration for Noel Coward's Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate.

Director Bonnie J. Monte has assembled a cast comprised of many of the Shakespeare Theatre's leading players as well as some newcomers. Playing Kate, Shakespeare's "shrew," is Victoria Mack, one of the company's most exciting actresses. Mack most recently appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre production of King Lear as well as Pride and Prejudice, Of Mice and Men, As You Like It, and Pygmalion for which she was named the "Best Surprise of 2003" by The Star-Ledger. She will appear in the feature film The Institution, due out this summer.

Playing Petruchio, who is determined to win Kate's hand, is Shakespeare Theatre leading man StEve Wilson. Wilson most recently appeared at the Theatre as Orsino in Twelfth Night as well as A Christmas Carol, The Rival and Illyria among many more. His Broadway and national tour credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sweet Charity, By Jeeves, Sunday in the Park with George, Lestat and The Frogs. He has appeared at many regional theatres including Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, The Walnut Street Theatre, and Barrington Stage Company.

Bianca, Kate's sister, who is pursued my many suitors, is played by ingénue Katie Fabel. Fabel appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre's 2009 hit comedy Noises Off as well as Amadeus. Her New York credits include Belle of Belfast at Cherry Lane Theatre and Earnest in Love at Irish Rep. She has also appeared in productions at St. Louis Rep., Cincinnati Playhouse, The Old Globe and in the UK at the London Palladium and the Royal National Theatre.

Scott Whitehurst returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play Hortensio, one of Bianca's suitors and Petruchio's best friend. Whitehurst appeared in the Theatre's productions of Henry V, Henry VI: Blood & Roses, King Lear and The Winter's Tale. He has also appeared in the off-Broadway productions of Black Eagles at Manhattan Theatre Club, Incommunicado, Waiting for Lefty and Jeffrey.

Playing Lucentio, who disguises himself in order to woo the lovely Bianca, is Jack Moran. Moran appeared at the Shakespeare Theatre in The Grapes of Wrath, Noises Off, and Richard III. His New York credits include The Oedipus Cycle and The Constant Couple at The Pearl Theatre Company and A Question of Impeachment at The Culture Project. He most recently appeared in Mahida's Extra Key to Heaven at Playwrights Theatre Of New Jersey.

Jon Barker plays Tranio, Lucentio's cunning servant who pretends to be his master in order to help Lucentio win Bianca's affections. At The Shakespeare Theatre, Barker has appeared in Twelfth Night, Hamlet, The School for Wives and A Streetcar Named Desire. Regionally, he has appeared at The Terrace Theater in the Kennedy Center, The Paramount Theatre and 12 Miles West. He is the recipient of the 2007 Kennedy Center ACTF Region II Irene Ryan Acting Award and the National Partners/American Theatre Classical Acting Award.

James Michael Reilly plays Grumio, Petruchio's servant. Reilly is in his 18th Season at The Shakespeare Theatre where he has appeared most recently in The Grapes of Wrath, The Comedy of Errors, The Rivals and The Merry Wives of Windsor. His regional credits include productions at The Denver Center Theatre Company, Aquila Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Delaware Theatre Company.

Gremio, an older suitor of Bianca, is played by veteran actor John Seidman. Seidman has appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre is The Tempest and Richard III and on Broadway in Eva LeGallienne's revival of Alice in Wonderland. He has also appeared at Roundabout Theatre Company, Atlantic Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC. His film credits include the upcoming Racing Daylight, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Jeffrey.

The Lord of Padua and the father of Kate, Baptista, is played by Joseph Costa who has appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in Pride and Prejudice, The Grouch, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Othello. He has also appeared at The Alley Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre and The Actors Theater of Louisville. His film credits include Sidney Lumet's Power, Off the Black, and First Born.

Rounding out the cast is Amanda Bailey, Jake Berger, Joel Rainwater and Stewart Schneck.

The Director
Now in her 20th Anniversary Season, Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte has directed more than 40 productions for the Theatre in her two decades at its helm. In addition, she has created and directed a number of original translations and adaptations for the stage including Enrico V, Pride and Prejudice, The Triumph of Love, The Blue Bird, and The Servant of Two Masters which will premiere this year on the Outdoor Stage. While associate artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, she was part of a writing team that collaborated with Tennessee Williams on an eight-hour, two part production entitled Tennessee Williams: A Celebration - a retrospective tribute to Williams' literary canon.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of The Taming of the Shrew are set designer John Hobbie, lighting designer Michael Giannitti, costume designer Erin Murphy and Sound Designer Karin Graybash. Josiane M. Lemieux serves as production stage manager.

Full price single tickets for The Taming of the Shrew are now on sale and range in price from $31 to $54 depending on performance day and time. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

Save with Discount Ticket Packages
Complete Works subscriptions, including tickets to all six Main Stage productions, as well as 5-play and 4-play choose-your-own discount ticket packages are now on sale. The discount ticket packages feature up to 43% percent savings off the cost of regular tickets, the best seats to all Main Stage productions; free, easy and unlimited ticket exchanges should schedules change; discounts on additional tickets; and the convenience of having tickets in hand and dates scheduled in advance. Complete Works subscriptions range in price from $105 for Previews to $378 for Opening Nights. Student subscriptions are available for $60. Choose-your-own 5-play and 4-play ticket packages start at $80. Call The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office at 973-408-5600. Call the box office at 973-408-5600. Look for more information at www.ShakespeareNJ.org. The 2010 Season features six Main Stage productions as well as a production on the Theatre's Outdoor Stage on the campus of The College of St Elizabeth.

Special Performances
Preview performances for The Taming of the Shrew are Wednesday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m; Thursday and Friday, June 3 and 4 at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 5 at 2 p.m. These Preview performances offer opportunities for reduced-priced tickets while enjoying the excitement of the very first performances in front of an audience. As always, the first Preview performance is Pay What You Wish night. Visit The Shakespeare Theatre Box Office between noon and curtain on June 2 and name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 preview performance (regularly $31 to $34, offer subject to availability).

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, three Symposium Series performances for each show include a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff. Symposium performances for The Taming of the Shrew will be Tuesday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 12 and 19 at 2:00 p.m.

For each production, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., artists from The Shakespeare Theatre will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on the production. Know the Show will be held on June 10 at 7:00 p.m. General admission is $5 for the general public, $4 for ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8:00 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $43 balcony seating or $47 for orchestra seating.

The Saturday, June 19 at 2 p.m. performance will be audio described for those who are blind or have visual impairments. Audio description enables patrons with visual impairments to hear, through an FM transmitter, a live description of the action on the stage. A pre-performance sensory seminar is offered that allows patrons to feel props, costumes and set pieces to further enhance their live theatrical experience. The service is offered free of charge. Tickets for the Saturday 2 p.m. performance are $43 and $47.

2010 Season

The 2010 Season includes 5 additional Main Stage plays and one long run show at the popular Outdoor Stage.

The Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey's Outdoor Stage will feature Carlo Goldoni's zany comedy THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS in a world premiere translation/adaptation by Bonnie J. Monte. A perfect commedia piece for families, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS will be presented "under-the-stars" at the outdoor amphiTheatre On the pastoral campus of The College of St. Elizabeth in Morris Township. THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS runs June 23 through August 1.

Back on the Main Stage is ARMS AND THE MAN, George Bernard Shaw's 1894 comedy, which remains one of the world's most popular plays. Featuring the famous "Chocolate Soldier," ARMS AND THE MAN is a hilarious and delightful "firecracker of a play" satirizing romantic notions of love, war and heroic sentiment. Directed by Associate Artistic Director Joe Discher, ARMS AND THE MAN begins performances on July 7 and runs through August 1.

A dark masterpiece from one of the world's most important playwrights and the winner of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature, NO MAN'S LAND, takes the stage August 11 through August 29. It marks Ms. Monte's first return to the mysterious, haunting world of Harold Pinter since her acclaimed production of The Homecoming in 1995. This disturbing and provocative piece offers up Pinter's biting wit and brilliant use of language at its best. The play contains adult content and is not appropriate for children. Bonnie J. Monte directs.

Shakespeare's comedic genius returns to the Main Stage with ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL running September 15 through October 10. Not seen on The Shakespeare Theatre stage in more than a decade, this new vision of Shakespeare's mercurial romance will be directed by longtime company member Stephen Fried.

James Goldman's wickedly biting "domestic comedy" THE LION IN WINTER follows next. Goldman's acerbic comedy of a dysfunctional family dynasty in the year 1183 was nominated for two Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway, and was later made into an Academy Award winning film featuring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn. THE LION IN WINTER will be directed by veteran company member Paul Mullins and runs October 20 through November 14.

To celebrate the Holiday Season, the Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey will present the American East Coast premiere of Dodie Smith's British romantic comedy I CAPTURE THE CASTLE. Most famous for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE was Ms. Smith's first novel which she then adapted for the stage. This 1930's coming-of-age classic is perfect for family audiences and is full of colorful Bohemian characters, wit, wisdom, and a fabulous crumbling castle. Directed by Cameron Watson, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE runs December 1 through January 2.

The Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The Outdoor Stage is located on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

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