OSF Opens Outdoor Elizabethan Stage

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival opens its flagship theatre the weekend of June 14-16 with two Shakespeare productions, Cymbeline and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and a rollicking U.S. premiere of David Farr's The Heart of Robin Hood.

"I have a growing conviction that these three productions are perhaps the most delightful and entertaining trio we've offered outdoors in my tenure as artistic director," Bill Rauch said. "By sharing the same epic forest setting, the magical and swashbuckling adventures of all three stories reverberate with one another in ways that will really capture audiences' imaginations and hearts. I can't wait to share them!"

The opening performance of the weekend begins at 8:00 p.m. Friday, June 14, with William Shakespeare's Cymbeline, directed by Rauch. One of Shakespeare's late plays, this romance features banishment, revenge, kidnapping, love, disguises, a beheading, rescues, reunions, forgiveness and more love. In brief, the newly, secretly wed Posthumus (Daniel José Molina) and Imogen (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) are separated because of a father's fury and a stepmother's ambitions. Their wanderings and often dire experiences eventually lead them back together where confessions and revelations bring peace between lovers, family and nations.

Also in the cast are Howie Seago as Cymbeline, Robin Goodrin Nordli as the Queen, Al Espinosa as Cloten, Tony DeBruno as Pisanio, Kenajuan Bentley as Iachimo, and Jeffrey King as Belarius. For a complete listing of cast, visit the OSF website.

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), David Woolard (costumes), David Weiner (lights), Paul James Prendergast (music/sound), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography), U. Jonathan Toppo (fight director). The dramaturg is Lydia G. Garcia, Ursula Meyer is voice and text director and Mandy Younger is stage manager.

Cymbeline runs June 4 through October 11. The Production Partners are Lynn and Gary Jacobs, Michael R. Jacobson and Trine J. Sorensen, Ann P. Wyckoff and Rogue Valley Manor.

On Saturday, June 15 at 8:00 p.m. the Elizabethan Stage will be filled with the denizens of Sherwood Forest in David Farr's The Heart of Robin Hood, a U.S. premiere directed by Joel Sass. In this fresh look at the Robin Hood tale, Marion (Kate Hurster) takes center stage. Daughter of the Duke of York, Marion decides to flee to the forest and join Robin Hood's band in order to elude the cruel Prince John (Michael Elich), who is scheming to usurp the throne from his brother King Richard and to marry Marion. When she first meets Robin (JOHN TUFTS), he is more hood than hero and far from the noble outlaw she thought he would be. She formulates a plan, and disguised as Martin of Sherwood, Marion beats Robin at his own game, robbing from the rich and providing for the poor. As Martin/Marion's fame spreads, Robin and his brutish men eventually learn that there can be honor among thieves and even love for Robin Hood.

Others in the cast are Erica Sullivan as Alice, Daniel T. Parker as Pierre, Michael J. Hume as Makepeace and K.T. Vogt as Marion's Chaperone. (complete cast list).

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), Paloma Young (costumes), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting), Paul James Prendergast (music/sound), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography) and Christopher Duval (fight director). Philippa Kelly is dramaturg, David Carey is voice and text director, and Amy Miranda Warner is stage manager.

The Heart of Robin Hood runs June 5 through October 12. The Lead Sponsor is The Pigott Family; the Production Sponsors are Mort and Amy Friedkin; and Production Partners are Mrs. Donald Hare and Anonymous Ashland Donors.

On stage Sunday evening June 16 at 8:00 p.m. is Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Christopher Liam Moore directs this production-one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies with a cast of memorable characters: Titania, Oberon, Puck and her Fairies; the lovers Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius; and, of course, Nick Bottom and his rustic crew.

In this staging, a Catholic school set on the edge of a magical forest-a lush, fantastical Elizabethan fairy world-is the backdrop for youthful urges, parental commands, mechanical aspirations and unearthly interventions.

The cast includes Richard Howard as Theseus, Judith-Marie Bergan as Hippolyta, Ted Deasy as Oberon, Terri McMahon as Titania, Gina Daniels as Puck, Christiana Clark as Helena, Tanya Thai McBride as Hermia, Wayne T. Carr as Demetrius, Joe Wegner as Lysander, and Brent Hinkley as Nick Bottom (complete cast list).

Designers are Michael Ganio (set), Linda Cho (costumes), David Weiner (lighting), Alexander V. Nichols (video projections), Sarah Pickett (music/sound), Jessica Wallenfels (choreography), U. Jonathan Toppo (fight director). Philippa Kelly is dramaturg, Rebecca Clark Carey is voice and text director and Gwen Turos is stage manager.

A Midsummer Night's Dream runs June 6 through October 13. Production Partners are Robert Dohmen, Jim Collier, William F. Meehan III and Betsy Meehan, and Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon.

Tickets remain available for previews, openings and the run of the shows and may be purchased online at www.osfashland.org or by calling the Box Office at 541-482-4331. For better seating and savings buy earlier.

The outdoor productions join six productions already in repertory at OSF. Playing in the Angus Bowmer Theatre are Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady, August Wilson's Two Trains Running (closes July 7) and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. In the Thomas Theatre are Shakespeare's King Lear and The Unfortunates by Jon Beavers, Casey Hurt, Ian Merrigan and Ramiz Monsef, with additional material by Kristoffer Diaz.

The 2013 season is sponsored by U.S. Bank.

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