May, Patterson Cast In Georgia Shakespeare's CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF 6/25-8/1

Georgia Shakespeare's producing artistic director Richard Garner has announced that local award-winning actors Daniel Thomas May and Courtney Patterson have been tapped to play Brick and Maggie Pollitt in Tennessee Williams' sizzling Southern tale of family deception, Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof, June 25 to August 1 at the Conant Performing Arts Center (4484 Peachtree Rd. NE).

Recently named two of the best actors in the city by The Atlantan,, Mr. May and Ms. Patterson have been performing together with Georgia Shakespeare for over six years, playing opposite one another in A Streetcar Named Desire, Hamlet and Metamorphoses
among others. "It was very evident throughout the audition process that Daniel and Courtney have
an electric on-stage chemistry and have built a rapport with one another through their many years of work together at Georgia Shakespeare," Garner said.

"Maggie and Brick are one of the great couples of the American stage and Courtney and Daniel are at the perfect point in their careers to tackle them head on. We'll be seeing fireworks when these two take the stage." In addition to Mr. May and Ms. Patterson, the cast for Cat on a Hot
Tin Roof includes the return of Associate Artist Tim McDonough in the powerhouse role of Big Daddy.

This role marks Mr. McDonough's return to Georgia Shakespeare after a five-year hiatus. Previous Georgia Shakespeare roles include King Lear and Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. Playing opposite Mr. McDonough is Megan McFarland, last seen at Georgia Shakespeare in Antigone, as Big Mama. The cast also includes Tess Malis Kincaid as Mae and Associate Artist Brad Sherrill as Gooper. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is directed by Jasson Minadakis, Artistic Director of Marin Theatre Company and former Artistic Director of Actor's Express.

In addition to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Georgia Shakespeare's 2009 Summer Festival includes Shakespeare's romantic comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream and his rarely produced Titus Andronicus. When the Fairy King Oberon (Brad Sherrill) decides to meddle in the affairs of the foolish mortals - and immortals - that inhabit a moonlit forest, the magical potion of one little flower causes an awful lot of mayhem in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, June 10 - July 31. Directed by John Dillon (Coriolanus, Julius Caesar), A Midsummer Night's Dream features
Tess Malis Kincaid as Titania, Daniel Thomas May as Demetrius, Joe Knezevich as Lysander, Allison Leigh Corke as Helena, Sarah M. Johnson as Hermia, and Michael Bradley Cohen as Puck. Long-time Georgia Shakespeare favorite Chris Kayser plays Nick Bottom and is joined by a band of rude mechanicals portrayed by Neal A. Ghant (Frances Flute), Brian Harrison (Snug the Joiner), Tim McDonough (Snout) and Chris Ensweiler (Quince).

Vengeance is in the air when Georgia Shakespeare presents Titus Andronicus, an epic story of a Roman general who returns home in triumph with a perilous war trophy - Goth Queen Tamora - which sets in motion a vicious cycle of revenge and retribution. Titus Andronicus runs July 9 - August 2 and promises to be an explosive blend of Pulp Fiction meets the Bard as director Richard Garner brings Shakespeare's most outrageous play to Atlanta audiences. Leading the cast is Tess Malis Kincaid as Goth Queen Tamora. Joe Knezevich plays Roman Emperor Saturninus, the husband who helps Tamora get her revenge on Titus Andronicus (Chris Kayser) and his daughter Lavinia (Sarah M. Johnson).

The cast also includes Michael Bradley Cohen, Allison Leigh Corke, Chris Ensweiler, Neal A. Ghant, Brian Harrison, Daniel Thomas May, Tim McDonough, Megan McFarland, Courtney
Patterson and Brad Sherrill. In addition to the productions mentioned above, Georgia Shakespeare's
2009 season includes the Family Classic Series production of Alice in Wonderland (July 18 - August 1), a one-week special engagement of Rick Miller's MacHomer (August 26 - 30) and Shakespeare's political drama Julius Caesar (October 10 - November 1).

Subscriptions to Georgia Shakespeare's 2009 Season (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cat
on a Hot Tin Roof, Titus Andronicus and Julius Caesar) are currently available for as low as $60 each. Single tickets range from $15 to $45 each and go on sale April 24. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. MacHomer tickets go on sale June 1, however subscribers may order tickets in advance. For more information, visit www.gashakepeare.org or call 404.264.0020.
In addition to award-winning theatre, Georgia Shakespeare offers an
experience like none other in Atlanta. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and
enjoy al fresco dining on the theatre's furnished picnic grounds. Guests may bring their own meals
or have their dinners waiting when they order in advance from Terra Terroir, Georgia Shakespeare's official 2009 caterer. Visit www.gashakespeare.org for more information.

Thirty minutes prior to every performance, guests are invited to attend Terrace Talks, a free pre-show orientation with members of Georgia Shakespeare's artistic staff. Terrace Talks take place on the picnic grounds.

Georgia Shakespeare's 2009 Season:
A Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed by John Dillon
June 10 - July 31, 2009
Tickets: $15 - $45
Preview performances: June 10 & 11 at 8:00 p.m. (tickets $12)
Opening Night: June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

About the play: When the Fairy King Oberon decides to meddle in the affairs of the foolish mortals - and immortals - that inhabit a moonlit forest, the magical potion of one little flower causes an awful lot of mayhem in Shakespeare's beloved romantic comedy. 

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Jasson Minadakis
June 25 - August 1
Tickets: $15 - $45
Preview performance: June 25 at 8:00 p.m. (tickets $12)
Opening Night: June 26 at 8:00 p.m.
About the play: A family gathering to celebrate "Big Daddy" Pollitt's birthday unveils long-kept secrets and schemes to gain a share of Big Daddy's wealthy Southern estate. Tennessee Williams' story of a Southern family in crisis has become a true American classic. Parental discression is advised.

Titus Andronicus
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Richard Garner
July 9 - August 2
Tickets: $15 - $45
Preview performance: July 9 at 8:00 p.m. (tickets $12)
Opening Night: July 10 at 8:00 p.m.
About the Play: Shakespeare's most outrageous play, Titus Andronicus is the epic story of a Roman general who returns home in triumph with a perilous war trophy - Goth Queen Tamora - which sets in motion a vicious cycle of revenge and retribution.
Titus Andronicus is intended for mature audiences. Parental discression is strongly advised.

Alice in Wonderland
Adapted and directed by Tim Conley and Allen O'Reilly
Based on the book by Lewis Carroll
July 18 - August 1
Tuesday - Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
July 21 and 28 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10 - $13
Family 4-Pack: $50
Preview performances: July 18 and 21 at 10:00 a.m. (no preview discounts offered)
Opening Night: July 21 at 7:00 p.m.
About the Play: Things get "curiouser and curiouser" for young Alice as she journeys down the rabbit-hole and into a magical world where rabbits talk, Mad Hatters throw tea parties, and the Red Queen is serious about her croquet. Lewis Carroll's classic tale is an adventure for the entire family. 

MacHomer Created and performed by Rick Miller
August 26 - 30
One Week Only!
Tickets: $15 - $45
About the Play: This one-man multi-media vocal spectacular features impressions of over 50 voices from TV's The Simpsons in a hilarious performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth! With a script that remains 85% Shakespeare, MacHomer will leave you "exhausted with laughter" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). 

Julius Caesar
By William Shakespeare
October 9 - November 1
Tickets: $15 - $45
Preview performance: October 9 at 8:00 p.m. (tickets $12)
Opening Night: October 10 at 8:00 p.m.
About the Play: A tale of political conspiracy, deceit, and vengeance pulled straight from Rome's rich history. After Brutus and Cassius plot to assassinate the emperor, Julius Caesar, the conspirators are pursued across Italy, climaxing in one final battle.