Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's WITTENBERG Garners 4 Helen Hayes Award Nominations

Baltimore Shakespeare Festival is pleased to announce that its production of Wittenberg has received four Helen Hayes Award nominations. The show was nominated in four different categories: Best Resident Play; Lead Actor, Resident Play (Seth Reichgott); Director, Resident Play (Tony Tsendeas); Costume Design, Resident (Norah Worthington).

Wittenberg, a comedy by David Davalos, is a sprightly and hilarious battle of wits featuring university colleagues Dr. Faustus (a man of appetites), versus Martin Luther (a man of faith), and their struggle for the soul of young Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (a youth struggling not only with his beliefs but also with his tennis game!), in a highly entertaining and humorous exploration of reason versus faith.

The show had its regional premiere at Baltimore Shakespeare Festival in May, 2009, where it received critical praise and was an audience favorite. The production was subsequently picked up by the Rep Stage, in Howard County, where it opened their 2009-2010 season in August, with the same cast and director, and most of the designers and crew.

"We are thrilled that the cast and crew from BSF's production were able to take our show to a wider audience," said Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's Producing Artistic Director Michael Carleton. "Congratulations to Rep Stage and all the nominees. We wish them the best of luck."

The Helen Hayes Awards are handed out annually, and honor the best of Washington D.C. professional theatre. The nominations for Wittenberg are officially for the Rep Stage production. Baltimore Shakespeare Festival is not eligible for the awards since it is located outside of the Washington D.C. area.