Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' Production of THE WINTER'S TALE Preps for Opening

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' production of The Winter's Tale opens at 8 p.m., on Fri., June 2, at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. Highlights to this year's production include original music composed by St. Louis-based The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra, a diverse cast under the direction of four-time Festival director Bruce Longworth, and the unveiling of Schlafly's custom-labeled draft beer, The Winter's Ale. Preview performances are scheduled May 31 and June 1. Performances run nightly, except Tuesdays, and begin at 8 p.m., through Sun., June 25.

The four Thursday performances during the production run will be signed for the deaf and hard of hearing. Sign language interpretation services are sponsored by Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In addition, on Thurs., June 15, the show will be audio described by Mind's Eye Radio for the visually impaired.

The nightly Green Show will begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature local musicians; The Bard's Buzz, a synopsis of the play; and, roving performers. Free backstage tours will begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of the main stage. On Fridays, the Festival's advanced teen ensemble, the Shakespeare Squadron, will perform a 20-minute version of The Winter's Tale.

Open lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Premium seating, priced at $10 and $20, can be reserved online starting May 5 at www.sfstl.com, until noon the day of the show, or purchased after 5:30 p.m. in the Glen. Visit www.sfstl.com for details.

Picnic fare, including sandwiches, snacks, beer, wine, soda, and water are available for purchase, provided by the Saint Louis Zoo. Audiences will be able to purchase Schlafly's The Winter's Ale, available exclusively at the production in Forest Park, as well as at Shakespeare in the Streets (Sept. 15-17). Schlafly is the official beer of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. Cash, debit, and credit cards are accepted in Shakespeare Glen.

Butler's Pantry and the Festival will offer "Shakespearean Epicurean" picnic boxes that will include a full dinner and dessert. Picnics must be ordered online 24 hours in advance, and will be available for purchase after May 5.

The Festival will be accepting nominations for the 2017 Maryville University Educator of the Year Award through May 12. The award is presented annually during the Festival season to an outstanding teacher in the field of arts education. To make a nomination, visit https://www.sfstl.com/in-the-schools/.

The Winter's Tale is a story of sin and redemption, love and forgiveness. Set in the kingdoms of Bohemia and Sicilia, it follows King Leontes' mistaken accusations and tragic loss, his daughter's burgeoning romance, and the ultimate reunification of their family. Part tragedy, part comedy, part romance, it is a delightful pastiche and one of the last plays Shakespeare ever wrote.

Festival veterans Charles Pasternak and Cherie Corinne Rice will play the vengeful and doubting Leontes and his falsely accused wife, Queen Hermione. Joining Pasternak and Rice in the lead roles will be Rachel Christopher (Paulina), Andy Matthews (Camillo), Antonio Rodriguez (Shepherd's Son), and Chauncy Thomas (Polixenes). Cassia Thompson, who appeared in last year's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and is also a recent graduate of the Webster University Conservatory, will play the role of Perdita.

Other Shakespeare Glen veterans include Gary Glasgow (Autolycus/Mariner/Lord), Michael James Reed (Antigonus), Whit Reichert (Shepherd/Jailer), Jerry Vogel (Cleomenes) and Peter Winfrey (Florizel/Court Officer). Recent Webster University Conservatory graduate Myke Andrews (Country Servant/Gentleman/Lord) will also be returning to Shakespeare Glen following his appearance in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Webster students making their Festival debut include Andrew Oppman (Dion/Lord), Sigrid Wise (Emilia/Dorcas), and Delaney Piggins (Mopsa). Ten-year-old Carter Eiseman, of Webster Groves, will play the role of Leontes' son, Mamillius.

The creative team includes Scott Neale (Set Design), Dottie Marshall Englis (Costume Design), John Wylie (Lighting Designer), Rusty Wandall (Sound Designer), and Suzanne Mills (Voice & Text Coach).

The Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra composes and performs original soundtrack music for silent films and other collaborative art projects. Co-founders Brien Seyle and Matt Pace have written and performed scores for more than a dozen silent films, and continue to provide music for museum exhibits, performance art pieces, and theater. Seyle appeared as an extra in Twelfth Night, playing violin as part of the incidental music ensemble, while Pace served as music director for the 2013 and 2016 seasons. Seyle studied music at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park and Maryville University, and is a veteran of St. Louis' vibrant independent music scene. Pace is an adjunct instructor of music theory and musicianship at several St. Louis colleges and universities, including Washington University where he received his PhD in 2011.

Since its inception in 2001, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has surpassed the one million mark in attendance through its work In the Schools, In the Streets and In the Park with more than 710,000 people attending the free main stage productions at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. The organization has reached an additional 300,000 students In the Schools through its educational programming. In 2010, the Festival launched SHAKE 38, a marathon participatory presentation of Shakespeare's entire 38-play canon community wide. In 2012, the Festival shut down its first street, Cherokee, to present a community-based play In the Streets. Leadership support for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' 2017 season is provided by the Whitaker Foundation. The Festival is also funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts & Education Council of Greater St. Louis. In 2017, the Festival was named Arts Organization of the Year by the Missouri Arts Council. For more information, please visit www.sfstl.com, or call 314-531-9800.

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