Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to Feature RAGTIME, MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in 2012

With over 140,000 visitors each season, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is now an essential part of summer in the city and, in 2012, with the eyes of the world on London, a destination for visitors from around the world. Celebrating this unique year, the theatre will present a repertory season of two major productions which will share the same creative team, led by Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader.

Featuring their celebrated fusion of original music, movement and unique setting, Sheader, and co-director Liam Steel, will present their vision of Shakespeare's most magical of plays A Midsummer Night's Dream; Sheader and Steel's previous collaborations at Regent's Park include Lord of the Flies, The Crucible and Into the Woods.

Playing in repertory from 18 May - 8 September 2012, Sheader and Steel will also direct Ragtime, a contemporary musical based on the novel by E.L Doctorow. This powerful musical, set at the turn of the 20th century, unites three families separated by race and destiny in a story of hope and transformation. Ragtime has a book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. The 1996 Broadway production won four Tony Awards including Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.

The production follows the multi Olivier Award winning productions of Hello, Dolly! and Into The Woods, and a West End transfer for this year's record-breaking production of Crazy for You.

Artistic Director, Timothy Sheader, says: "What has proved exciting at Regent's Park over the past few years are productions that embrace scale, both physically and in their narrative. The titles for 2012, each with their own particular ambition, are united in their exploration of space, light and the changing atmosphere of theatre in the open air."

Designer Jon Bausor will work with Sheader and Steel following his acclaimed set designs for Lord of the Flies and The Crucible. Laura Hopkins will design the costumes for both productions. Laura's previous credits include Shoes (Sadlers Wells) A Delicate Balance (Almeida) and Black Watch (National Theatre Scotland).

*Regent's Park Open Air Theatre will offer a special Olympic pricing structure for all performances from 25 July - 12 August 2012. All tickets will be available for £20.12 when booked before the end of April 2012.

Priority Booking for Members opens 10am, 25 October 2011 (memberships available for purchase from noon, 7 October)

Public Bookings open on 10am, 29 November 2011

Ragtime
Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel
Set Designed by Jon Bausor
Costumes Designed by Laura Hopkins
18 May - 8 September 2012
First preview: 18 May
Press night: 28 May

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Directed by Timothy Sheader and Liam Steel
Set Designed by Jon Bausor
Costumes Designed by Laura Hopkins
2 June - 5 September 2012
First preview: 2 June
Press night: 11 June

No matinees on 23 May, 2 June, 6 June, 20 June or 27 June
No performances on 30 May - 1 June inclusive or 27 July
There will be an additional matinee of A Midsummer Night's Dream on 21 June and 26 July, and an additional matinee of Ragtime on 28 June.