DeLaria to Headline Midsummer Night's Dream for McCarter and Paper Mill

Lea Delaria has been cast as Bottom in an upcoming production of Shakespeare's enchanted comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream, which will be staged by Tina Landau (Floyd Collins).

The play will mark the first joint production of the McCarter Theatre and the Paper Mill Playhouse--two of the preeminent theatres in New Jersey. A Midsummer Night's Dream will first play the McCarter Theatre from March 21st through April 16th (opening March 24th) before throwing fairy dust on the Paper Mill Playhouse from April 19th through May 21st (opening April 21st).

In addition to DeLaria, the show will feature Guy Adkins as Puck, Will Fowler as Demetrius, Jay Goede as Oberon/Theseus, James Martinez as Lysander, Ellen McLaughlin as Titania/Hippolyta, Stacey Sargeant as Hermia and Brenda Withers as Helena, with Karl Christian, Demond Green, Reginald Holden Jennings, Adam Lobato, Christopher Mai, Jess Nager, Ryan Overberg and Stephen Payne among the ensemble.

According to press notes, A Midsummer Night's Dream "involves two sets of lovers whose romantic escapades are complicated by their entrance into the play's fairyland woods where the King and Queen of the Fairies preside. The impish character Puck creates mischief when he meets a merry band of players and the star crossed lovers."

GrooveLily will provide original music for the production with group members Gene Lewin, Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda to join the cast onstage. Louisa Thompson (sets), Michael Krass (costumes), Scott Zielinski (lighting), Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound) and Christopher Harrison (aerial design) will comprise the creative team of the show.

DeLaria, who is known for her high energy and expansive stage presence, won Obie and Theatre World Awards for her Broadway debut performance as Hildy in On the Town. She has since appeared on Broadway in The Rocky Horror Show, as well as off-Broadway in The Vagina Monologues, Little Fish and Happy Days, and at Encores! in L'il Abner. Chicago, Once Upon a Mattress and Cinderella are among other theatrical credits. She is also known as a stand-up comic and a jazz singer; "Play It Cool" and "Double Standards" are her solo recordings.

To order tickets for the McCarter engagement, call (609) 258-2787 or visit www.mccarter.org. To order tickets for the Paper Mill run, call (973) 376-4343 or visit www.papermill.org.