Adapted HAMLET Gets Staged Reading with Deirdre O'Connell and Peter Francis James

Award winning actors Deirdre O'Connell (Circle Mirror Transformation) and Peter Francis James (Stuff Happens) appeared in a new 90­minute adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory.

Deirdre O'Connell (as Gertrude) has worked extensively on stage and in film, winning an Obie for Annie Baker's CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION. She recently appeared in Fulfillment Center at MTC as well as on TV in THE PATH, and THE AFFAIR. Peter Francis James (as Claudius) has been seen on Broadway in PRESENT LAUGHTER, THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and many other productions. He won the Obie, Lucille Lortel, and Drama Desk awards for his portrayal of Colin Powell in STUFF HAPPENS at The Public Theater.

Also in the cast are Michael Masure (as Hamlet) who starred in the award winning short film, HELPING HANDS and is a recent graduate of The William Esper Studio, Bill Connington (as The Ghost) who won several awards for acting in the play and short film versions of ZOMBIE, based on the novella by literary giant Joyce Carol Oates, Obie Award winner (for THE CLUB) Carole Monferdini (as Polonius) who starred in VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, and FULL GALLOP, Baize Buzan (as Ophelia) who starred in OTHELLO, THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, and WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN at Yale School of Drama, and Edmund Donovan (as Laertes) who recently performed in THE SNOW GEESE at MTC, HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME at Cherry Lane, and 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE at Yale School of Drama

Rounding out the cast is Donovan Mitchell (as The Player) who recently appeared in SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION on Broadway and WEDDING BASH at 59E59 Theaters.

Directing the adaptation is Kelley Van Dilla. His short film, LET GO, MOTHER, which he wrote, directed, edited, and starred in alongside Deirdre O'Connell will premiere at the Cucalorus Film Festival this November.

Kelley Van Dilla and Michael Masure co­wrote the 90 minute adaptation, which cuts all but the main seven characters and starts of with the famous "To be, or not to be" at the top of the show.

Kelley Van Dilla is a theatre and film director originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He specializes in gritty, intimate interpretations of contemporary and classic works that allow us to look at current events through a radically different lens. Recent projects include co-writing and directing a 90 minute adaptation of HAMLET starring Deirdre O'Connell and Peter Francis James (staged reading at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory), workshopping Sam Lahne's DOXXED (Live Arts), THE PILLOWMAN, and his autobiographical short film, LET GO, MOTHER, which he wrote, directed, edited, and co-starred in along with Deirdre O'Connell. He is also a frequent collaborator with Chekhov at Lake Lucille. www.vandilladirecting.com

Kelley Van Dilla

Michael Masure

Michael Masure

Left to Right, Top Row: Donovan Mitchell, Baize Buzan, Edmund Donovan, Carole Monferdini Left to Right, Bottom Row: Bill Connington, Michael Masure, Deirdre O'Connell, Peter Francis James

Left to Right, Top Row: Kelley Van Dilla, Donovan Mitchell, Baize Buzan, Edmund Donovan, Carole Monferdini Left to Right, Bottom Row: Bill Connington, Michael Masure, Deirdre O'Connell, Peter Francis James

Left to Right: Deirdre O'Connell, Kelley Van Dilla, Bill Connington

Left to Right: Donovan Mitchell, Carole Monferdini, Edmund Donovan

Left to Right: Baize Buzan, Michael Masure, Deirdre O'Connell, Peter Francis James, Bill Connington