Shakespeare & Company Announces 2010-2011 Season

Tony Simotes, Shakespeare & Company's Artistic Director, today announces the full lineup for the summer portion of S&Co.'s 33rd season, his first as Artistic Director. Joining the previously announced Mainstage titles is a special addition to the Founders' Theatre lineup, plus the exciting programming at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theater and key casting info for the summer season. In addition to previous casting announcements, award-winning long-time Company actor Jonathan Epstein returns to S&Co. after a six-year absence to join the cast of The Winter's Tale in the role of Leontes. Simotes also welcomes back Director Daniela Varon after a five-year absence, who will direct Sea Marks in the Bernstein this season.

NEW TO FOUNDERS': After presenting the world premiere of Women of Will: Following the Feminine in Shakespeare, last week at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester, England, Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer will open the tenth season of excellence at Founders' Theatre on May 25 with a two-month run of her magnificent opus, which also features Nigel Gore (Sir Toby in Twelfth Night, Claudius in Hamlet, Antony in Antony & Cleopatra). The duo will then team up again in an unforgettable, three-day event (August 25-27), with an expanded version of Women of Will titled Women of Will: The Complete Journey (the world premiere of the project's full, five-part iteration) in the intimate confines of S&Co.'s state-ofthe-art rehearsal studios. See website for further details about this three-day event and lunch & dinner options. www.shakespeare.org.

BERNSTEIN THEATRE: On May 21, the Education Program's barnstorming school tour of Julius Caesar , directed by Jonathan Croy, comes home to open the Bernstein Theatre season with a three-week residency of a much-loved play featuring some of the most memorable and enduring turns of phrase in the English language. Longtime S&Co., director Daniela Varon (The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing) returns to direct Gardner McKay's Sea Marks (July 9- September 4), a thoroughly affecting love story about two mismatched people brought together by the power of poetry. Sea Marks features Kristin Wold, seen the last two seasons as Emilia in Othello, and Walton Wilson (Brabantio in Othello and Gustav in The Ladies Man 2008) Long time Company actor Robert Lohbauer is featured in the world premiere of celebrated local playwright and author Daniel Klein's riveting one-hander Mengelberg and Mahler (June 11-September 9), and Elizabeth Aspenlieder will be seen in a special remount of they hysterically-funny Bad Dates (August 4-September 12), the smash of the 2009 winter season that netted her an Elliot Norton Award and a nomination for an upcoming 2010 IRNE Award.

"I was a part of that merry band that trekked up here to Lenox with Tina Packer in 1978 and founded this place," says Simotes. "As I announce the lineup for my first season as Artistic Director, I'm feeling intense excitement as well as profound appreciation for the legacy I've assumed stewardship over. A theme that comes up throughout the season is transformation, renewal and tradition. You might say that these seemingly divergent things are what Shakespeare & Company is all about. After announcing a few of the Founders' titles a few months back, we are very pleased to be able to bring in Tina's magnificent Women of Will production as well as welcome back a few long time Company artists with the return of Jonathan Epstein and Daniela Varon. And we are able to offer yet again another strong Bernstein Theatre line-up that brings back some of our favorite stalwart Company actors and directors, a world premiere, a revival, our Lunchbox
Shakespeare, an expanded Studio Festival, and even more special events. We are also thrilled to have our new and creative Executive Chef on board who has taken our food service and offerings to a whole new level. I look forward to our new Saturday Feast like Falstaff buffet in between shows and especially the chance to meet our patrons and special guests all season long!"

This action-packed lineup joins previously announced titles, Richard III (July 2-September 5) directed by Simotes and featuring OBIE Award-winner John Douglas Thompson as well as S&Co. actor and Training faculty member Tod Randolph, last seen onstage here in Enchanted April, the surprise smash of 2006. The Winter's Tale (July 15-September 6) is directed by Kevin G. Coleman and features the return of longtime S&Co. actor Jonathan Epstein, last seen here in 2004's The
Comedy of Errors. And Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer directs the world premiere of Joan Ackermann's sumptuous new play The Taster (July 28 - September 6), featuring the return of longtime S&Co. artist Rocco Sisto, a Company founder, Broadway and off-Broadway veteran, and recipient of two OBIE Awards, a Drama League Award, and a Drama Desk Award nomination. Sisto acts alongside the celebrated opera singer Maureen O'Flynn in The Taster, who has performed several times with the Metropolitan Opera and other highly noted ensembles around the world; O'Flynn makes her debut with S&Co. this season.

TICKETS, DISCOUNTS & SAVINGS: Ticket prices range from $5 to $85 as well as FREE performances and special events for the whole family. Back by popular demand is the Full-Time Berkshire County Resident Discount, and a myriad of discounts available for Groups, Students, Seniors, Teachers and Military. Check out our incredible savings of 50 %, 40%, 30 %, 20% and 10% discounts off regular priced tickets and our NEW Premium tickets (Founders' Opening nights and Saturday evening shows only) that include prime seating in section A, a complimentary glass of wine and an oh-so-decadent dessert-plus early seating! Both Founders' and Bernstein theatres are wheelchair accessible and hearing-aid assisted. PLACE YOUR ORDER at: www.shakespeare.org or call the box office at (413) 637-3353 and learn more about the season, The Players, the plays, discount availability, and to
request a season brochure.

Also this season, the ever-popular Bankside Festival returns, headlined by Molière wild early comedy, The Amorous Quarrel, directed by Jenna Ware at the outdoor Rose Footprint Theatre. Free Preludes will precede performances of Richard III, The Winter's Tale and The Taster from July 2 through September 5. The ever-growing Free reading of The Declaration of Independence returns once again at 3pm on July 4, preceded this year by Packer's Revolutionary Moments, an exciting
collection of dramatic scenes and discussion, featuring a wide host of Company artists, illustrating the influence of Shakespeare on inspirational leaders at key moments in world history, from Abraham Lincoln to Nelson Mandela. The Bankside Lecture Series returns with a series of six lively lectures and demonstrations, on Thursdays from July 1 through August 5. Shakespeare & Young Company on May 7 & 8 and August 18 & 20, features performances by the young actors in
our Education Program's Young Company, as they perform Shakespeare's works with a fierce and fiery temperament. Newly expanded this year from one day to two, the Studio Festival of Plays (September 6 & 7 from 11am to 11pm) provides a rare chance to see cutting edge works in an informal setting, with Company artists presenting one-time staged readings of some of
the most exciting new work around.

New additions to the schedule include a roster of Wednesday Q&A Sessions (July 7-August 25 included in show ticket price) following selected performances in both the Founders' and Bernstein. Building from some of the biggest special-event hits in the 2009-2010 season, S&Co. welcomes back a series of five Tuesday Talks (July 6-August 3) featuring the actors, artists and scholars of Shakespeare & Company in intimate discussions about the process behind mounting our season's
productions, as well as the themes at the heart of these thought-provoking plays. Behind The Scenes Tours (July 4- September 4) also return, offering the chance to explore the behind-the-scenes workings of the costume shop, armory, backstage areas, and more! Saturday Feasts (every week in July and August from 5:00pm - 7:30pm) will include succulent grilled meats, savory fresh vegetables, decadent desserts and more, under the tent outside Founders' Theatre.

For complete season information, visit www.shakespeare.org.