OTHELLO Opens at Park Square Theatre 10/23

James A. Williams, the Minneapolis Star Tribune's 2008 Artist-of-the-Year, stars as Othello in Park Square Theatre's upcoming production of the Shakespeare tragedy, directed by Park Square's Artistic Director Richard Cook.

In this timeless tale, the union of Othello and Desdemona (played by Stacia Rice) should have signaled the triumph of love over prejudice and intolerance. Instead, it was destroyed by jealousy and betrayal. Steve Hendrickson plays the destructive Iago; John Catron is Cassio; Mo Perry is Bianca; Virginia Burke plays Emilia, and Edwin Strout is Roderigo. OTHELLO opens October 23 (previews begin October 16) at Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul.

Also on stage are Bruce Bohne (Brabantio), Daniel Boughton (Soldier/Attendant), Shawn Patrick Boyd (Clown/Soldier/Attendant), James Cada (Duke), Erik Hoover (Officer/ Gentleman), Dan Hopman (Lodovico), Craig Johnson (Gratiano), Mark Knutson (Soldier/Attendant), Katharine Moeller (Lady-in-waiting/Camp follower), Joseph Papke (Senator/Gentleman), Stephen Pearce (Montano), Alan Sorenson (Senator/Gentleman), and Amanda Whisner (Lady-in-waiting/Camp follower).

The creative team includes Erik E. Paulson (scenic), Sarah Holmberg (properties), Mike Kittel (lighting), C. Andrew Mayer (sound), Kalere A. Payton (costumes), Doug Scholz-Carlson (fight choreography) and Carlyle Brown, author of The Masks of Othello (dramaturg).

Previews of Othello will be held Friday, October 16 through Thursday, October 22; the show opens Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays through November 8. All performances are in the company's intimate theater in Saint Paul's historic Hamm Building, 20 W. Seventh Place. Tickets are $40 on Thursdays through Sundays. Group, senior, and speciAl Prices for those 30 and under are also offered. Tickets are available at 651-291-7005 or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org.