Photo Flash: First Look at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ's AS YOU LIKE IT
By: BWW News Desk Jun. 21, 2013
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's enormously popular annual summer venue for family theatre under-the-stars will transform into the Forest of Arden when the Theatre presents its Outdoor Stage production of William Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It at the amphitheatre on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morris Township. This replica of an ancient Greek theatre nestled into the hillside of the bucolic campus offers a theatrical event unique on the East Coast. As You Like It began on June 19th and continues through July 28th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
As You Like It is directed by Shakespeare Theatre artistic director Bonnie J. Monte. This splendid and pithy comedy is filled with some of Shakespeare's most colorful and beloved characters and will delight all ages.
Matthew Simpson plays the smitten and poetic Orlando. Simpson appeared in the Outdoor Stage productions of The Comedy of Errors and The Servant of Two Masters. He also appeared at the Denver Center Theater Company, the Guthrie Theatre, and in a national tour with Chamber Theatre Productions of Boston. He is part of a two-person production of The Book of Lukewhich originated at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in 2011 and is playing at theatres throughout the country.
The object of Orlando's affections, Rosalind, is played by Shakespeare Theatre veteran Caralyn Kozlowski. Kozlowski has appeared in the Outdoor Stage production of The Servant of Two Masters as well as the Main Stage productions of Trelawny of the Wells, Private Lives, The Play's The Thing, Othello and Three Sisters. She has also appeared at Seattle Rep, Cal Shakes, and South Coast Rep among others.
Broadway, film and television star Robert Clohessy plays Shakespeare's clown Touchstone. Clohessy has been a series regular on Blue Bloods, Boardwalk Empire, and Oz among others and appears in the current film The Place Beyond the Pines. He has appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre's Outdoor Stage production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Main Stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire. His Broadway credits include Twelve Angry Men, Rounding Third and Pal Joey!
Maria Tholl makes her Shakespeare Theatre debut in the role of Celia who accompanies Rosalind into the Forest of Arden. Tholl has appeared at Stages St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Great River Shakespeare Festival.
The wrestler Charles is played by Ben Sterling. Sterling has appeared in The Shakespeare Theatre productions of Measure for Measure and To Kill a Mockingbird as well as Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth with STNJ's Shakespeare LIVE!
Shakespeare Theatre veteran Greg Jackson returns to the Theatre for his 15th season to play Jaques. He has appeared in Main Stage productions of Measure for Measure, A Christmas Carol, Timon of Athens, The School for Wives, and Amadeus among many others. He has appeared off-Broadway in The 39 Steps and co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in the off-Broadway hitDuet!
Bruce Cromer plays Duke Frederick. Cromer has appeared in the Shakespeare Theatre productions of Timon of Athens, The School for Wives, The Taming of the Shrew and Life of Galileo. He is a resident actor at the Human Race Theatre and a professor and Head of Acting in the Wright State Professional Actor Training Program.
Raphael Nash Thompson plays the shepherd Corin. His Shakespeare Theatre credits include Measure for Measure, Henry V, Othello and Macbeth. He has also appeared in productions at The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Red Bull Theatre, Hartford Stage Company and Wilma Theatre.
The cast also includes Jordan Laroya, Terence Gleeson, Dan Bound-Black, James Costello, Craig Bazan, Kristen Kittel, Jennifer Mogbock, and Adam Burns.
Creating the world of As You Like It are set designer Jonathan Wentz, lighting designer Andrew Hungerford, and costume designer Paul Canada. Denise Cardarelli is the production stage manager.
Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:15 p.m. with additional twilight shows on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. Tickets range from $28 to $33 for adults; tickets for ages 18 and under and students are $15. Children under age five go for free. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.
Photo Credit: James Morey, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
(front, center) Benjamin Stirling as Charles, a champion wrestler takes on Orlando played by Matthew Simpson while (l to r) Rosalind played by Caralyn Kozlowski and Celia played by Maria Tholl look on.
Matthew Simpson plays Orlando who falls in love with Rosalind played by Caralyn Kozlowski.
Rosalind played by Caralyn Kozlowski and Celia played by Maria Tholl.
Maria Tholl plays Celia who accompanies her friend Rosalind into the Forest of Arden.
Raphael Nash Thompson plays Corin the shepherd who meets Touchstone, played by Robert Clohessy, in the Forest of Arden.
(front) Celia, played by Maria Tholl reads a letter from Orlando to the disguised Rosalind played by Caralyn Kozlowski.
Orlando, played by Matthew Simpson, meets the melancholy Jaques in the Forest of Arden.
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