Heidi Rodewald Joins Stew To Compose For Shakespeare On The Sound's OTHELLO

Shakespeare on the Sound, Connecticut's premier outdoor summer theater company presenting free Shakespeare in the park, today announced that Obie award winning composer Heidi Rodewald will join forces with her writing partner Stew to compose the original music and songs that will be a part of the company's upcoming production of Othello, under the direction of Joanna Settle. Rodewald and Stew are perhaps best known for co-writing the musical Passing Strange, for which Stew won the Tony for Best Book of a Musical and which was nominated for seven Tony Awards and won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical and the 2008 Obie Award for Best New American Theater Piece. Currently in its 15th Season, Shakespeare on the Sound will present Settle's all-new production at two beautiful locations on Long Island Sound. The show will play Pinkney Park, Rowayton June 15 - 26, 2010 and Baldwin Park, Greenwich July 2 - 11, 2010.

"I had so much fun doing Midsummer last year that I simply had to get Heidi in on it this time around," enthused Stew. "We've been creating together for almost 15 years so having her here on this second go 'round with Shake feels right."

Heidi Rodewald continued, "There's an endless amount of jokes that come to mind when thinking about Stew and I working on Othello. And so I do think I can bring my considerable knowledge of large, charismatic black men with short fuses to bear on this project. But seriously, it's exciting to be jamming with Shakespeare. I also think Stew and I bring an interesting male/female balance to the music that seems cool and right. And we both love working with Joanna, of course."

"Shakespeare on the Sound is over the moon to be welcoming Heidi to the Othello 2010 creative team. Stew and Heidi are in the studio right now, and Heidi's insightful, striking, curious mind and sound are so present and driving in the tracks I'm hearing each day," added Joanna Settle. "Her presence on the creative team greatly deepens our work and joy as we devise our re-telling of Shakespeare's masterpiece. Our audience has some great songs headed its way this summer, and some very subtle complicated underscoring. Expect the unexpected."

Shakespeare on the Sound's mesmerizing Othello explodes onto the stages of two Connecticut parks this summer. This psychological thriller promises edge-of-your-seat entertainment, music that excites and performances that delight, disturb and astonish audiences of all ages. Join Othello, Iago and an unforgettable cast of Shakespeare's most dynamic characters as the drama unfolds under moonlit skies.

Shakespeare on the Sound has established itself as one of the most popular summer theater companies on the East Coast, drawing large audiences to each performance in the unique under-the-stars settings of its waterfront venues.

Audiences are invited to arrive early and picnic in the park before the performance. There is no admission fee, but a donation of $20 ($10 for students and seniors) is suggested. In Rowayton, parking is limited and early arrival is suggested. In Greenwich, the production is a five minute walk from the Greenwich Metro-North stop. Ample parking is available.

For rail and road directions, visit www.shakespeareonthesound.org.

HEIDI RODEWALD (Original Music and Songs). Obie award winner Heidi Rodewald co-wrote the musical Passing Strange, nominated for seven Tony Awards and winner of Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical and the 2008 Obie Award for Best New American Theater Piece. Ms. Rodewald has worked for over ten years performing, producing, arranging, and composing for both The Negro Problem and Stew. She composed music for Karen Kandel's Portraits: Night and Day (2004) and co-wrote the screenplay We Can See Today for the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Labs (2005).

STEW (Original Music and Songs) is the recipient of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, for Passing Strange, a film of which was directed by Spike Lee. After a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Passing Strange - The Movie completed a successful run at IFC theaters in select cities and screened on PBS in January. As a two-time Obie Award-winner and four-time Tony Award nominee, Stew leads, along with his collaborator Heidi Rodewald, two critically acclaimed bands: The Negro Problem and Stew. Stew's Making It was performed at St. Ann's Warehouse in February. But what he'll ultimately be remembered for is having composed "Gary Come Home" for the Sponge Bob Square Pants cartoon.

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