Drama League Nominee Julia Coffey Joins 2016 Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival

Davis McCallum, Artistic Director of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, has announced that Drama League and Drama Desk Award nominee Julia Coffey will join the company to take over the roles of Rosalind in As You Like It, and Mariana and Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure. Coffey will first appear in As You Like It on Sunday, July 31.

Coffey was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Mrs. Janus in Mint Theater Company's production of London Wall, directed by Davis McCallum. She received a Drama League nomination for her performance of Mrs. Holroyd in The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd, also at the Mint.

Though this will be Coffey's debut at HVSF, she is no stranger to the character of Rosalind. This will be her third production of As You Like It following those at Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and Baltimore's Center Stage. Of her performance in Santa Cruz, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "Julia Coffey is an ever-more delightful Rosalind, infectiously confused, then irresistibly slipping more deeply in love. Her banter with Celia sets the play's tone, and her cross-dressed wooing of Orlando leavens affecting romance with sharp comic second thoughts." Among her other New York credits are The Trip To Bountiful at Signature Theater and Perfect Arrangements at Primary Stages. Most recently, Coffey appeared as Hedda in Studio Theatre's production of Hedda Gabler. Other reginal credits include: Arcadia (Lady Croom) at A.C.T., Tales from Hollywood (Helen) at the Guthrie Theater, The Merchant of Venice (Portia) at Shakespeare Theatre, Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolyn) at PlayMakers Rep, Romeo and Juliet (Juliet) at Chicago Shakespeare, and Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) at A Noise Within.

Jessica Love, currently playing Rosalind in As You Like It and Mariana and Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure,will depart from HVSF's Acting Company on August 1 to take up a role in the world premiere of Aubergine by Julio Cho at Playwrights Horizons.

Of the transition, McCallum says, "Julia is one of the most gifted actors I know, and I loved working with her on London Wall, so her name came immediately to mind when this vacancy became known. We look forward to welcoming Julia to the HVSF family, and can't wait to share her work with our audiences at the Tent. It was a pleasure having Jessica Love with us this season, and we wish her well at Playwrights Horizons."

As You Like It and Measure for Measure are running in repertory with Macbeth through August 28. For tickets and information visit hvshakespeare.org or call the Box Office at 845-265-9575.

Now celebrating its 30th season, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) is a critically acclaimed (The New York Times, New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal), professional, non-profit theater company. Located one-hour north of Manhattan in Garrison, NY, HVSF has established a reputation for lucid, imaginative, engaging and highly inventive productions staged on the Great Lawn of the historic Boscobel House and Gardens with a backdrop of stunning vistas overlooking the Hudson River. Each year, its productions attract a total audience of more than 35,000 from Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, New York City, New Jersey, and beyond, regularly achieving over 80% audience capacity. HVSF also takes the magic of Shakespeare and live theater beyond their tent by touring shows throughout the Hudson Valley and by presenting limited runs of classic plays in local landmark venues. Their acclaimed arts education programs include training for early-career theater artists, professional development for educators, and programs and performances that serve nearly 50,000 middle and high school students each year.

The company's mission is to "engage the widest possible audience in a fresh conversation about what is essential in Shakespeare's plays. Our theater lives in the here and now, at the intersection of the virtuosity of the actor, the imagination of the audience, and the inspiration of the text."

To post a comment, you must register and login.