Shakespeare Theatre Of New Jersey Announces Final Casting For HAMLET, Runs 9/9-10/11

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced final casting for Hamlet, which begins the Fall portion of its Fantastic Voyages season. Shakespeare's masterpiece, led by Broadway veterans Gareth Saxe and Robert Cuccioli, and directed by Shakespeare Theatre artistic director Bonnie J. Monte begins performances on September 9 and continues through October 11 at the Shakespeare Theatre Main Stage - The F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue at Lancaster Road in Madison. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

Music features Harmonium Choral Society

The production features an evocative soundscape created by sound designer Karin Graybash and featuring the voices of Harmonium Choral Society, led by Artistic Director Anne Matlack. "I heard Harmonium perform last winter," director Bonnie J. Monte commented, "and I became excited about the possibility of collaborating with them on the sound for Hamlet. These incredibly gifted voices will create a haunting aural environment for this powerful masterwork."

Harmonium Choral Society is one of New Jersey's leading choral arts organizations. Founded in 1979, it has been led by Yale-educated Artistic Director Dr. Anne Matlack since 1987. The 90-member chorus and its select 20-voice Chamber Singers are made up of committed volunteers from northern New Jersey and surrounding areas.

Winners of Chorus America's prestigious 2009 Education Outreach Program Award, Harmonium is dedicated to performing a diverse repertoire at a high artistic level, and increasing community appreciation of choral music through concerts, education and outreach. Their concert season consists of three concerts, in December, March, and June, performed in Morristown and Madison.

Special Opportunity to go behind-the-scenes.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey offers a special opportunity to support the Theatre and get a behind-the-scenes look at Hamlet with "The Hamlet Experience." "The Hamlet Experience" is a special, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for individuals or groups of individuals to sponsor a specific character from Hamlet to help bring them to life - to help them "be!" Character sponsorship opportunities range from $50 to $1,000. All sponsorships include meeting your character after the show. Additional benefits for higher levels of sponsorship range from autographed photos and free tickets, to attending a rehearsal, and backstage tour of the production! To become a sponsor, contact the Development Department at 973-408-3761

Complete Casting Announced

Gareth Saxe leads the cast of Hamlet in the title role. Saxe appeared as Joey in last season's Drama Desk Award-winning Broadway revival of The Homecoming and previously in the Roundabout Theatre's acclaimed production of Heartbreak House. He also appeared in A Moon to Dance By with Robert Cuccioli and Jane Alexander at The REP in Pittsburgh, PA. For The Shakespeare Theatre, Saxe has appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and The Merchant of Venice.

Broadway veteran and Tony Award nominee Robert Cuccioli plays Claudius, The King of Denmark. Cuccioli last appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in the 2008 smash hit Amadeus. He received a Tony Award nomination and the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his portrayal of the title roles in the hit Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde. Also on Broadway, he played Javert in Les Miserables. His off-Broadway credits include Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Enter the Guardsman and And the World Goes ‘Round. For The Shakespeare Theatre, in addition to Amadeus, Cuccioli has played Brutus in Julius Caesar, Macbeth in Macbeth, Antony in Antony and Cleopatra and the leads in Carnival and Enter the Guardsman. He has also performed at many prestigious theatres across the nation including The Shakespeare Theatre Company D.C., The Guthrie Theatre, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, Paper Mill Playhouse, McCarter Theatre and George Street Playhouse.

John Hickok joins the cast as the doomed Polonius. Hickok's Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning Parade, Aida, and Little Women. Regionally he has appeared at Hartford Stage, NY Stage & Film, Alabama Shakespeare Theatre and The Irish Rep among others. He is the recipient of two Olivier Award nominations and can be heard on the cast albums of Parade, Aida and Little Women.

Lauren English makes her Shakespeare Theatre debut as Ophelia, the object of Hamlet's desire. English most recently played Sally Bowles in Cabaret at The San Francisco Playhouse where she also appeared in Our Town, The Crucible and Prelude to a Kiss. She has also been seen at prestigious theatres regional theatres including The Berkeley Rep, California Shakespeare Festival and The Magic Theatre.

Newcomer Daniel Stewart joins the cast as Laertes. Stewart appeared on Broadway in The Overwhelming (Roundabout Theatre) and Not About Nightingales, directed by Trevor Nunn. Off-Broadway, he played Phileas Fogg in Around the World in Eighty Days at Irish Rep. He has appeared regionally at Cincinnati Playhouse, Alley Theatre, Syracuse Stage and The Old Globe. In the UK, Stewart appeared in Not About Nightingales at the Royal National Theatre as well as in productions at the National Studio Theatre, Greenwich Theatre and Cambridge Theatre Co.

Also making her Shakespeare Theatre debut is Jacqueline Antaramian as Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, the Queen of Denmark. Antaramian was the stand-by for Janet McTeer in Broadway's acclaimed Mary Stuart. She has also appeared on the Great White Way in Coram Boy, Wrong Mountain and Julius Caesar. She also appeared at the Met in Iphegenie en Tauride with Placido Domingo. Regionally, Ms. Antaramian has appeared at the Old Globe Theatre, Utah Shakespeare, The Wilma Theatre and McCarter Theatre. On television, she has appeared in Fringe, Lipstick Jungle and The Sopranos.

Gene Gillette and Michael Stewart Allen join the cast as the famous duo Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Gillette makes his Shakespeare Theatre debut as Rosencrantz after appearing in The Crucible at Arvada Center for the Arts and Burn This and Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare Santa Cruz. He has also appeared regionally at The Folger Shakespeare Theatre, The Globe Playhouse and Theatreworks. Allen returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his 11th season in the role of Guildenstern. His company credits include Cymbeline, Pride and Prejudice, Galileo and Macbeth among others. Regionally he has appeared at People's Light Theater, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Repertory and 12 Miles West.

Greg Jackson returns to The Shakespeare Theatre to play Hamlet's friend Horatio and Ames Adamson joins the cast as Reynaldo. Rounding out the cast are company members Jon Barker, Jason Bobb, Pressly Coker and RoBert Grant.

Single tickets for Hamlet are now on sale and range in price from $30 to $54 depending on performance day and time. Patrons can save off regular ticket prices by purchasing a 3-Play Discount Ticket package at significantly discounted prices. Three play packages start at $60. Ticket Packages also offer additional benefits such as discounts on additional tickets and free and flexible ticket exchange privileges. Patrons may also select FlexPasses -- discounted vouchers that are redeemed for tickets during the season. Single ticket prices include a $2 facility fee not subject to discount. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

For more information about the season, call 973-408-5600, email or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2009 Season continues with 2 productions on the Main Stage.

Adapted by Frank Galati from the epic novel by John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath runs October 21 through November 15. The story of Tom Joad and his family's journey during the Great Depression is a majestic and deeply affecting portrait of American life and the American soul at a defining moment in our nation's history. The production is directed by Joe Discher who directed the 2004 acclaimed production of Of Mice and Men.

Closing the season is Shakespeare's Twelfth Night running December 2 through January 3, 2010. Directed by Bonnie J. Monte, Twelfth Night is a shimmering confection - delightfully tart, ravishingly bittersweet and spectacularly frothy all at once. It is a joyous show for the holidays and for families of all ages.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The Outdoor Stage is located at the Greek Theatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described, captioned and sign-language interpreted. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600, email boxoffice@ShakespeareNJ.org or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

 

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