Karen Akers, Stephen DeRosa & More Set for Westport Country Playhouse's SING FOR YOUR SHAKESPEARE, 6/3-22

Westport Country Playhouse's world premiere musical revue, "Sing for Your Shakespeare," playing June 3 - 22, will feature a six-member cast of Broadway talents: Karen Akers, Britney Coleman, Darius de Haas, Stephen DeRosa, Constantine Germanacos, and Laurie Wells. With selections from Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate," Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story," and Rodgers and Hart's "The Boys from Syracuse," as well as numbers by Duke Ellington, Frank Loesser, and others, the production explores how the American Songbook has been inspired for decades by Shakespeare's works.

Directed by Playhouse artistic director Mark Lamos, co-conceived by Wayne Barker, Lamos, and Deborah Grace Winer, with musical direction by Barker, and choreography by Dan Knechtges, the show is based on an original idea and production for 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & LyricistsTM, New York, NY, where it was praised by The New York Times as "revelatory," "rousing," and having "a free-spirited vitality."

"We have a cast of six stunning performers, whose collective experience and blazing talent will give the show a wondrous variety of musical expression," said Lamos. "They all excel brilliantly in their ability to constantly surprise audiences with their range-- from cabaret to musical theater, Broadway to jazz to rock. Because of these artists, we've been able to expand the show's possibilities and, with the choreography of Dan Knechtges, present it in Westport with a new vitality."

Karen Akers appeared in Broadway's "Nine," for which she won a Theatre World Award, and "Grand Hotel," and the films "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "Heartburn." Britney Coleman's credits include Westport Country Playhouse's "Into the Woods," and New York's "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," the original iteration of "Sing for Your Shakespeare" for 92Y's Lyrics & LyricistsTM last year.

Darius de Haas performed in Westport Country Playhouse's "Twelfth Night," and Broadway's "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" and "Rent." He received an Obie Award for "Running Man." Stephen DeRosa was in Broadway's "Betrayal," "The Nance," "Hairspray," "Twentieth Century," "Henry IV," and "Into the Woods."

Constantine Germanacos' credits include Broadway's "Evita," and TheatreWorks Palo Alto's "The Light in the Piazza," for which he earned a SFBATCC Award. Laurie Wells was in Broadway's "Mamma Mia!," and Off-Broadway/Regional's "Swing!," "City of Angels," "42nd Street," and "Ragtime."

The design team includes Riccardo Hernandez, scenic design; Candice Donnelly, costume design; Robert Wierzel, lighting design; and Domonic Sack, sound design.

"Sing for Your Shakespeare" received special funding by Maureen and Edwin Schloss. Production Sponsors are Howard J. Aibel; Czekaj Artistic Productions; Kate and Bob Devlin, The Devlin Foundation; Barbara and John Samuelson; and Barbara and John Streicker. Corporate Production Sponsors are First Niagara Bank and KPMG.

The musical revue's running time is approximately 90 minutes; no intermission.

Now available are 2014 4-play subscriptions, including online purchasing capability 24/7. Subscribers receive a host of benefits not afforded to single ticket buyers, including significant savings, priority seating, free and easy ticket exchanges, and restaurant discounts. Flex passes are also now available for those seeking a more flexible subscription option. Single tickets start at $30; buy early for best prices. Educators and students are eligible for 50% discounts. On the day of a performance, senior rush tickets are available at 50%.

"Sing for Your Shakespeare" performance schedule is Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 2 and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Special series feature Taste of Tuesday, Previews, LGBT Night OUT, Opening Night, Sunday Symposium, Open Captions, Thursday TalkBack, Together at the Table Family Dinner, Playhouse Young Professionals, and Backstage Pass.

For more information, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org, or by using the new Playhouse App or mobile website.