Peregrine Theatre Ensemble Announces Casting for RENT and HAMLET, Summer 2014

Casting is complete for Peregrine Theatre Ensemble's 2014-summer season of Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by Jake Ford and Jonathan Larson's RENT, directed by Kenneth Noel Mitchell, with musical direction by Isaac Harlan and choreography by Dell Howlett.

This season's Ensemble consists of local actors from Provincetown, MA as well as students and alumni of NYU Tisch New Studio on Broadway, The Boston Conservatory, University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater, Marymount Manhattan, New England Conservatory, AMDA and Hartt. Featuring SyFy Channel and Ghost Hunters star Adam Berry (Roger); Ben Berry (Hamlet/Mark); Angel Valentin (Horatio/Angel); Tessa Bry Taylor (Gertrude/Rent Ens); Jake Glassman (Laertes/Rent Ens); Kristen Luzi (Guildenstern/Rent Ens); Missy Michael Jamieson (Rosencrantz/Rent Ens); Matt ZanFagna (Player King/Rent Ens); Marisa Skillings (Ophelia); Go Mahan (Claudius); Nathaniel Hall Taylor (Polonius); Jake Ford (Bernardo); Ariel Imani Van Alstyne (Mimi); Solomon Peck (Collins); Jessica Rhodes (Maureen); Darlene Van Alstyne (Joanne); Brandon Cordeiro (Benny); Joel Harms (Paul/Ens); Gabrielle Calixte (Seasons Soloist/Bag Lady/Ens). The cast members of Hamlet will also participate in a youth adaptation of the play, which will be presented weekly at 5pm prior to Shakespeare's original masterpiece.

HAMLET

William Shakespeare Director Jake Ford

After hearing of his father's death, a young prince Hamlet abandons his studies abroad and returns to Elsinore, the seat of power in Denmark where his father once ruled as king. Expecting mourners at a memorial, he is instead greeted by a happy marriage feast: Hamlet's uncle has married his mother, and now wears his father's crown.

The hasty transition of power has spurred young prince Fortinbras of Norway to challenge the new government's claim on nearby lands by annexation. Skirmishes between Fortinbras' lawless mercenaries and the powers of Denmark have broken out dangerously near Elsinore. Deep in the dark of night, in the trenches near the front lines, Hamlet is confronted by a figure like the departed king, his father, who demands revenge for his most unnatural murder. The accused: the new king, Claudius, uncle and now stepfather to Hamlet.

Can we trust the shadow of a king that speaks amid the madness of war?

Spin and politics have won Claudius a crown and a Queen, and with them the burdens of responsibility and rule. Hamlet plots to seek the truth behind the ghost's words, using madness itself as cover. Suspecting threat beneath Hamlet's over anxious state, old friends become spies at Claudius' command. Nothings as it seems. Politic plots are played; loves baited, lost, betrayed;

families broken; friends and fathers killed; all this in the shadow of war. The center cannot hold; things fall apart; no one escapes unscathed and the present becomes the past again.

RENT

Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Director Kenneth Noel Mitchell Musical Director Isaac Harlan Choreography Dell Howlett

Winner of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as four Tony awards including Best Musical, RENT tells the story about a group of friends, musicians, and artists who struggle to find a life for themselves in New York City's Lower East Side during the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City in the early 90s. Facing a world at the end of a millennium that encompasses HIV/AIDS, sexual identity, gentrification, exploitation and love. RENT an exploration in celebrating life in the face of fear, celebrating life in the face of death and surviving through the creation of art.

The design team includes:

Set and lighting designer Christopher Heilman. Most recently Christopher was the assistant scenic designer for the 2014 Tony nominated musical Rocky, Roundabout Theatre Company's Violet as well as off-Broadway's Fun Home. Christopher has also worked with the celebrated Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis. His work has been shown at St. Ann's Warehouse, 3- Legged Dog, La Mama, P.S. 122, The Werner Center and The Guthrie. As an associate designer, Christopher worked with production designer KK Barrett on Karen O's psycho-opera Stop The Virgins. Christopher was also hired as a creative consultant at Walt Disney Imagineering.

Costume and wig designer Carol Sherry is widely know on the Cape for her extensive work at many of the areas local theater companies including the Wellfleet Harbor Actors' Theatre, Counter-Productions, The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, Provincetown Theater Company and Peregrine Theatre Ensemble. Aside from Cape Cod, Carol's extensive career extends to Broadway, off-Broadway and the world famous Radio City Music Hall.

Hamlet begins performances June 23rd - July 2nd Mon - Wed and every Thursday July 3rd - September 4th at 7:30pm. Hamlet: Youth Adaptation will be every Thursday at 5pm from July 3rd - September 4th.

RENT opens July 7th and runs Mon - Wednesdays until September 3rd at 7:30pm.

All performances will take place at the Provincetown Theater, 238 Bradford Street Provincetown MA 02657. For tickets, visit www.peregrinetheatre.com or call the Box Office at 508- 487- 7487.

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