THE WINTER'S TALE Begins Performances Tomorrow at The Old Globe

Performances begin this Saturday, February 8 as The Old Globe presents Shakespeare's spellbinding romance The Winter's Tale. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his Old Globe directorial debut with the show, the first indoor Shakespeare production at the Globe in over a decade. The Winter's Tale will run Feb. 8 - March 16, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Feb. 8 - Feb. 12. Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

NPR calls Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein "one of the country's leading Shakespeareans." Now Edelstein's work takes center stage with The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare's most enchanting masterpiece, featuring a powerful musical score written expressly for the production by acclaimed classical composer Michael Torke. The Winter's Tale sweeps breathtakingly from tragedy to comedy and along the way visits kings and queens, dancing shepherds, a most extraordinary statue, and one notoriously hungry bear before it reaches its stunning, magical conclusion.

"I am beyond thrilled to begin my tenure as Artistic Director at this great American Shakespeare theater by staging my favorite of the Bard's plays," said Edelstein. "I'm glad to be escorting Shakespeare back indoors at the Globe for the first time in a decade, and I'm very fortunate to be collaborating with an amazing company of actors, a first-rate design team, and a major composer. All in all, it's an embarrassment of riches."

Acclaimed stage and screen actor Billy Campbell returns to the Globe following performances in the celebrated productions of Much Ado About Nothing (2003) and The Comedy of Errors (1997). Campbell currently stars as Dr. Alan Farragut on the new SyFy Channel drama "Helix." He is perhaps best known for his lead role on the series "Once and Again," for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination, and the cult favorite film The Rocketeer. His other theatre credits include Fortinbras (Ovation Award) and Roundabout Theatre Company's Hamlet, and his television and film credits include "The Killing," "The 4400," "Crime Story," "Dynasty," Gettysburg, Enough, and Dracula.

The cast of The Winter's Tale alsofeatures Erin Elizabeth Adams (Dorcas), Jordi Bertran (Mamillius), Meaghan Boeing (Emilia), Lindsay Brill (Mopsa), Angel Desai (Paulina), Jamal Douglas (Mariner), Kushtrim Hoxha (Cleomenes), Paul Kandel (Autolycus, Archidamus), Maya Kazan (Perdita), A.Z. Kelsey (Florizel), Mark Nelson (Antigonus, Old Shepherd), Natacha Roi (Hermione), Robbie Simpson (Dion), Brendan Spieth (Clown), Paul Michael Valley (Polixenes), Cornell Womack (Camillo), Patrick Zeller (Jailer), and Nadia Guevara and Albert Park (Ensemble).

The creative team includes Wilson Chin (Scenic Design), Judith Dolan (Costume Design), Russell H. Champa (Lighting Design), Fitz Patton (Sound Design), Michael Torke (Original Music), Taylor Peckham (Music Director), Bryan Byrnes (Fight Director), Jan Gist (Voice and Dialect Coach), Caparelliotis Casting (Casting), and Anjee Nero (Stage Manager).

The Winter's Tale is supported in part through gifts from 2014 Shakespeare Sponsor Qualcomm Foundation and Production Sponsors John A. Berol, Karen and Donald Cohn, Elaine and Dave Darwin, and Kathryn Hattox. Additional support is provided by HoyleCohen.

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein is a stage director, producer, author, and educator. Widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the works of Shakespeare in the United States, he has directed nearly half of the Bard's works. As Director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater (2008-2012), he oversaw all of the company's Shakespearean productions, as well as its extensive educational, community outreach, and artist-training programs. At The Public, Edelstein staged Julius Caesar starring Jeffrey Wright for Shakespeare in the Park and The Merchant of Venice featuring Ron Leibman's Obie Award-winning portrayal of Shylock. He was also Associate Producer of The Public's Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. From 1998-2003 he was Artistic Director of Classic Stage Company, where he produced and directed some of New York's most memorable classical productions. Edelstein's Shakespearean directorial credits include The Winter's Tale with David Strathairn, Timon of Athens with Richard Thomas, As You Like It with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Richard III with John Turturro. His additional credits include the Lucille Lortel Award-winning revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons; the world premiere of Steve Martin's The Underpants, which he commissioned; Molière's The Misanthrope starring Uma Thurman in her stage debut; and the world premiere of novelist Nathan Englander's play The Twenty-Seventh Man. Edelstein has taught Shakespearean acting at The Juilliard School, NYU's Graduate Acting Program, and the University of Southern California. His book Thinking Shakespeare (called by New York magazine "a must-read for actors") was published in 2007 and is now the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. He is also the author of Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions.

TICKETS to The Winter's Tale can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on Feb. 8 and continue through March 16. Ticket prices start at $29. Performance times: Previews: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. There is a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Wednesday, March 5 and no matinee performance on Saturday, March 8. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors and groups of 10 or more.

Additional events taking place during the run of The Winter's Tale include:

INSIGHTS SEMINAR: The Winter's Tale
Monday, Feb. 10 at 7:00 p.m. FREE

Insights Seminars are informal presentations of ideas and insights to enhance the theatergoing experience. The seminars feature a panel selected from the artistic company of each production and take place in the theater where the production is performed. Reception, 6:30 p.m. Seminar, 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and reservations are not required.

POST-SHOW FORUMS: The Winter's Tale
Tuesdays, Feb. 18 and 25 and Wednesday, March 5. FREE

Discuss the play with members of the The Winter's Tale cast and crew at post-show discussions led by the Globe's creative staff after the performances.

SUBJECT MATTERS: The Winter's Tale
Wednesday, Feb. 26. FREE

Following the performance, explore the ideas and issues raised by the production through brief, illuminating post-show discussions with local experts, such as scientists, artists, historians and scholars.

Photo Credit: Jim Cox

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