Alumni Cast In Utah Shakespearean Festival's 2010 Summer Season, Begins 6/28

The company for the Utah Shakespearean Festival 2010 summer season will feature a number of returning alumni. Some actors include Michael Brusasco, Don Burroughs, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Grant Goodman, David Ivers, Carol Linnea Johnson, Melinda Pfundstein, and Brian Vaughn. A complete casting list is available at www.bard.org.

"Securing the return of actors who have inspired our ensembles over the years is always a high point for our company as a whole and for our audiences," said Kathleen F. Conlin, Festival associate artistic director/casting director. "Matching their talents with the divergent requirements of each play is a joyful process that fosters enthusiasm as we begin our rehearsals and sustains us as we prepare for opening night and, indeed, for our audiences all season long."

Returning to the Festival to play Jane Austen's beloved romantic leading man, Mr. Darcy in "Pride and Prejudice," is Michael Brusasco, who will also play Macduff in "Macbeth." Kate Cook, who also plays Margaret in "Much Ado about Nothing," will play his leading lady, Elizabeth Bennet. Also returning is actor Quinn Mattfeld, who will play the devilishly handsome George Wickham and Malcolm in "Macbeth." Melinda Pfundstein also joins the cast as Jane Bennet, as well as playing Biddy in the world premiere musical "Great Expectations."

Brusasco's past roles at the Festival include Grumio in "The Taming of the Shrew," Ariel in "The Tempest," Christopher Wren in "The Mousetrap," and Lysander in "A "Midsummer Night's Dream." Cook's previous roles include Miss Poppenghul in "Moonlight and Magnolias" and Virgilia in "Coriolanus." Mattfeld was seen last season as Orlando in "As You Like It, Gloucester/Bedford in "Henry V," and Antipholus of Syracuse in "The Comedy of Errors," as well as starring in the fall production "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)." Pfundstein's past credits include Roxane in "Cyrano de Bergerac," Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady," and Martha Jefferson in "1776."

Burroughs and Johnson return to the Festival for their fourth season. Burroughs will star as Dogberry in "Much Ado about Nothing" and Banquo in "Macbeth." Johnson will play Lady Catherine de Bourgh as well as other roles in "Pride and Prejudice," and the leading lady in "The 39 Steps."

Previously at the Festival Burroughs played Elyot Chase in "Private Lives," Bobby Van Husen in "The Boy Friend" and the title role in "Henry V." Johnson's past roles at the Festival include Amanda in "Private Lives," Maisie in "The Boy Friend," and Olivia in "Twelfth Night."

Goodman returns to the Festival to play the title role in "Macbeth" and Bassanio in "The Merchant of Venice." Playing the leading lady in "The Merchant of Venice" is Emily Trask, who will also play Estella in "Great Expectations." Goodman is likely remembered for his role as Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew" and Le Bret in "Cyrano de Bergerac." Trask wowed audiences last summer as Lily in "The Secret Garden," and Katharine in "Henry V."

The Alfred Hitchcock comedy, "The 39 Steps," will star two well-known Festival actors, Brian Vaughn as Hannay and David Ivers as one of the clowns. The production also features returning actor Aaron Galligan-Stierle who plays the other clown. Additionally, Vaughn will play Mr. Collins in "Pride and Prejudice," Ivers will play Benedick in "Much Ado about Nothing," and Galligan-Stierle will play Launcelot Gobbo in "The Merchant of Venice."

Galligan-Stierle has been seen at the Festival as Leo Davis in "Room Service," Flute in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and Slender in the "The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Ivers has performed numerous roles at the Festival including Montjoy in "Henry V," Jacques in "As You Like It," and Jake in "Stones in His Pockets." Vaughn has also played numerous roles including the title roles in "Henry V," "Hamlet" and "Cyrano de Bergerac."

"We are thrilled to have these talented actors returning to the Festival for another year," said R. Scott Phillips, Festival executive director. "They are all consummate professionals who bring life and emotion to our stages and who our audiences recognize and appreciate for their great artistry. In addition, they are all great human beings and strong, supportive company members."

Tickets are now on sale for the 2010 season at bard.org and 1-800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849). The summer season runs from June 28 to Sept. 4 and includes Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing," "The Merchant of Venice," and "Macbeth," in addition to Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps," Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," and a world premiere musical "Great Expectations."

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