KING LEAR, THE THREE MUSKETEERS and More Headline Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival's 2013 Season

Terrence O'Brien, Founding Artistic Director of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) has announced 2 of the 3 productions that will run in repertoire during the Festival's 27th season beginning in June 2013.

At an event to celebrate the very successful 2012 season, O'Brien announced that he will direct King Lear, and Associate Artistic Director Christopher V. Edwards will direct Ken Ludwig's adaptation of The Three Musketeers. The third production, another play by Shakespeare, will be announced later in the year. Tickets for the 2013 season will go on sale in January. O'Brien said: "This is going to be a great season for us. I have been waiting to do Lear for years and can't wait to explore it in our setting and with our playing style." On The Three Musketeers O'Brien continued: "Chris Edwards's sensibility and energy will make this a fun evening for audiences of all ages."

Audiences will not have to wait until next summer to see the critically acclaimed HVSF Company at work. In October and November, O'Brien will direct An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe which will be presented at Boscobel and The Hudson River Museum. Festival favorite Jason O'Connell will take on the role of Edgar Allan Poe as he revisits the Hudson Valley to read excerpts from his spine-chilling tales, and answer questions about his life. A wine and cheese reception will follow the performance. For tickets, times, and additional performances visit www.hvshakespeare.org or www.hrm.org.

In December, back by popular demand, the company will present A Christmas Carol, also directed by Mr. O'Brien, at Boscobel, the Katonah Museum of Art, the Herbert Alumni Center at West Point, and the Hudson River Museum. Performed by four members of the HVSF Acting Company, the adaptation provides a fresh view of the holiday classic that is funny and inspiring. Performances are followed by a reception with the actors and a holiday feast. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.hvshakespeare.org.

For 26 years, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has produced critically-acclaimed shows that challenge, inspire and demystify the great works of William Shakespeare. The region's only professional resident Shakespeare Company, HVSF makes its home under an open-air tent theater perched high upon the banks of the Hudson River on the grounds of the historic Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, New York. HVSF is dedicated to presenting Shakespeare that is surprising and spontaneous, creating a dynamic relationship between actor and audience. Using the dramatic views of the Hudson Highlands and the sweeping vistas from the elegant lawns of Boscobel as near-perfect stage scenery, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents unparalleled productions with the perfect marriage of theater and nature.