Utah Shakespeare Festival Announces a Change in Fall Casting

The Utah Shakespeare Festival announced today that Artistic Director Brian Vaughn will be playing Leontes in The Winter's Tale this fall, as well as directing Dial M for Murder. The role of Leontes was originally to be played by another actor, who recently learned of conflicts that wouldn't allow him to be in Cedar City this fall. Vaughn graciously stepped in to cover the part, an exciting move for patrons of the Festival who have enjoyed him playing numerous roles in past Festival seasons.

The Winter's Tale and Dial M for Murder begin previews on September 23 and run through October 22, along with Noises Off! which opened in July. Tickets are available now at www.bard.org or 800-PLAYTIX.

Rounding out the cast of The Winter's Tale will be fellow artistic director, David Ivers, and Vaughn's wife, Melinda Pfundstein. Executive Director R. Scott Phillips said that, "audiences should really enjoy seeing this powerhouse trio together on stage. As a group they collaborate well and have great charisma, which will really shine through their characters."
Along with Vaughn, Ivers and Pfundstein, many other audience favorites will be appearing at the Festival this fall including Quinn Mattfeld, Melinda Parrett, Jonathan Gillard Daly, Jeanne Paulsen, Peter Silbert, and Ben Livingston.

Vaughn has played a number of roles on the Festival stages over the past twenty years, most recently Harold Hill in The Music Man. Other roles include Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice and Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps (2010); Dr. Neville Craven in The Secret Garden and King Henry in Henry V (2009); Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac (2008); the title role in Hamlet (2006); Charlie in Stones in His Pockets (2005); Smudge in Forever Plaid (2004); and The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (2001). He comes to the Festival from Milwaukee Repertory Theatre where he was a resident company member; and he has appeared at theatres across the country. 

The Winter's Tale

By William Shakespeare

Directed by Laura Gordon

In this, one of Shakespeare's most beautiful romances, a king, a queen, and their daughter are reunited-both physically and spiritually -through the power of forgiveness. What begins as a tale of betrayal and jealousy becomes, through time, a story of love and cleansing reconciliation.

Dial M for Murder

By Frederick Knott

Directed by Brian Vaughn

Tony married for money. Now he'll kill for it. And you'll be on The Edge of your seat every thrilling moment of this quintessential murder mystery. It's a dark, dangerous, delightful whodunit of forbidden love, delightful suspense, blackmailers, and backstabbers-figuratively and literally.

Noises Off!

By Michael Frayn

Directed by Jeff Steitzer

Hilarious and frantic, this comic farce will whisk you backstage, to flubbed lines, false entrances, and a million laughs-to the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of a tattered troupe of actors and the play they are desperately trying to stage in front of the footlights.

Content Advisory

This show contains some mild sexual innuendo. It is appropriate for most audiences except, perhaps, some preteens.

The Festival's 50th anniversary season runs through October 22, 2011. The eight-play season includes Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and The Winter's Tale. The season also includes Meredith Willson's great American musical The Music Man, Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, Michael Frayn's Noises Off!, and the mystery thriller Dial M for Murder by Frederick Knott. For a full schedule and more information, please visit www.bard.org.