Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Presents The Winter's Tale Dec. 3-28

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey concludes its record breaking 2008 Season with William Shakespeare's mercurial romance The Winter's Tale. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays beginning December 3rd and continuing through December 28th at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue in Madison. Tickets range from $29 to $33 for Previews and $38 to $53 for regular performances, depending on performance day and time and seat location. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for group discounts.

Beginning as a story of jealousy and tyranny, but ending with love and magical music in the air, The Winter's Tale is a perfect way to celebrate the holidays for it is a play that celebrates the triumph of love, nobility and all things good, and ends with the promise of rejuvenation, redemption, and hope.

Making her Shakespeare Theatre debut as Hermione, the Queen who is unfairly accused by her husband is Linda Powell. Powell appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-nominated revivals of On Golden Pond and Wilder, Wilder, Wilder. She also appeared in The Overwhelming at Roundabout Theatre, Jitney and Jar the Floor at Second Stage and Pericles at Theatre for a New Audience, among many others. Her film and television credits include American Gangster, I Think I Love My Wife, Spinning Into Butter and Law and Order: SVU among others.

Robert Gomes plays Leontes, the King of Sicily married to Hermione. Gomes was last seen at The Shakespeare Theatre in this season's Private Lives and has also appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Play's The Thing and Cymbeline. His Broadway credits include The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Racing Demon at Lincoln Center Theater. Off Broadway, he has appeared in Only You, As Is and Twelfth Night at Circle Rep. His television credits include Ed, Sex and the City, Law and Order, All My Children and As the World Turns.

Jim Mohr returns to The Shakespeare Theatre for his seventh season to play the Old Shepherd who raises the King's child as his own. Mohr has appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Cherry Orchard, Of Mice and Men, The Tempest and The Crucible among others. On Broadway, he played Father Dewis in the Tony Award-nominated Buried Child directed by Gary Sinise. Recently he appeared in Translations at Irish Classical Theatre and Pygmalion at Cambridge Opera House.

Maureen Sebastian returns for her third season at The Shakespeare Theatre to play Perdita, a princess who is raised by the Old Shepherd. Sebastian appeared at The Shakespeare Theatre in The Taming of the Shrew on the Main Stage. Her Off-Broadway credits include Thicker Than Water's Both at Ensemble Studio Theatre and Children of Vonderly at Ma-Yi Theatre Company. Her television credits include Gossip Girl and the host of Reebok Movie Nights on Oh! Oxygen Network.

Jonathan Brathwaite returns to The Shakespeare Theatre in the role of Florizel, the Prince who falls in love with the Shepherd's daughter. At the Shakespeare Theatre, Brathwaite appeared in Julius Caesar, King John and Much Ado About Nothing. Recently, he appeared with the Aquila Theatre Company in Romeo and Juliet and The Canterbury Tales. He has also appeared the Utah Shakespeareian Festival, The Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. and New York's Pearl Theatre Company.

Jessica Ires Morris returns for her third season at The Shakespeare Theatre to play Paulina, friend of Queen Hermione. At The Shakespeare Theatre, Morris appeared in Pride and Prejudice, Julius Caesar, and Life of Galileo as well as productions with Shakespeare LIVE! Morris has appeared in productions at the Texas Repertory Theatre, The Lark Theater and Ars Nova and has trained at the Moscow Art Theatre.

Camille Troy returns for her second season at The Shakespeare Theatre after appearing in Macbeth in 1992. Troy recently appeared in The Royal Family and Taming of the Shrew at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, A Christmas Carol at GeVa Theatre and The Merchant of Venice at Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival.

Lindsay Smiling makes his Shakespeare Theatre debut in the role of Polixenes, friend of Leontes. His regional credits include productions at The Human Race Theater, the New Freedom Theater, Wilma Theater and the Walnut Street Theater. His film and television credits include Hack, As The World Turns, The Daily Grind and Brother.

Also appearing in the 17 member cast are Actor's Equity members David Foubert, Greg Jackson, Darren Matthias and Scott Whitehurst.

Rounding out the cast are Jon Barker, Jesse Easterling, Will Eddy, Kristen Kittel, and Jack Moran.

Performances of The Winter's Tale begin December 3 and continue through December 28. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F. M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Avenue in Madison. Tickets range from $29 to $33 for Previews and $38 to $53 for regular performances, depending on performance day and time and seat location. Single ticket prices include a $1 facility fee, not subject to discount. For tickets or more information, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

About the Director
Director Brian B. Crowe is in his 14th season at The Shakespeare Theatre, where he is the Director of Education and a Resident Director. Crowe's Shakespeare Theatre directing credits include Henry VI: Blood & Roses, Julius Caesar, Love's Labour's Lost, The Tempest and The Comedy of Errors on the Main Stage, A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Taming of the Shrew on the Outdoor Stage and the 1999 world premiere of his original script, Wonderland (...And What Was Found There) on the Other Stage. The Star-Ledger called Mr. Crowe "one of the state's most ingenious directors" for his work on Love's Labour's Lost and named him Best Director of a Drama (Julius Caesar and Wonderland) as well as one of three "theatre artists to look for in the new millennium" for his work on Wonderland. He has also directed the Shakespeare LIVE! touring productions of Nevermore, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello and The Tempest. Other directing credits include Red Herring and A Perfect Ganesh at 12 Miles West; The Tempest (DayTony recipient), Noises Off, the Midwest regional premiere of The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Patient A with The Human Race Theatre Company, where he is currently a resident artist; Somewhere in Between and Children of a Lesser God at Dayton Playhouse; The Destiny of Me for The Act-Up Theatre Festival; and Bent.

Special Performances
The first preview performance of The Winter's Tale, on Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m., offers opportunities for reduced-price tickets as an incentive to first-time theatergoers as well as those who would otherwise not be able to afford a night at the theatre. As always, the first preview performance is Pay What You Wish night -- name your own admission price for that evening's 7:30 p.m. preview performance. Offer is subject to availability. Call the box office at 973-408-5600 for details.

For no more than the cost of a regular ticket, Symposium Series performances include the additional treat of a post-play discussion with the cast and artistic staff, on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m.

On Thursday, December 11, The Shakespeare Theatre presents the popular education program Know the Show. From 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., a member of the Theatre's artistic staff will present a pre-performance talk that provides background information and an insider's perspective on The Winter's Tale.

General admission to Know the Show is $5 for the general public, $4 for subscribers and ticket package holders. Tickets to that evening's 8 p.m. performance may be purchased separately for $42-$46. Single ticket prices include a $1.00 Facility fee not subject to discount.

The Artistic Staff

Creating the world of The Winter's Tale are set designer Brian Ruggaber, costume designer Anne Kenney, lighting designer Andrew Hungerford and sound designer Richard M. Dionne Paige Blansfield serves as choreographer and Josiane M. Lemieux is the production stage manager.

Tickets & General Information
Preview performances of The Winter's Tale are Wednesday December 3 at 7:30 pm and Thursday and Friday, December 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. Previews offer the thrill of seeing a work-in-progress before the show officially opens. Preview tickets are $29 and $33.

Additional performances are Tuesdays and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. (excluding Opening Night at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6); Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.; and Sundays, at 7:00 p.m. There are no performances on Wednesday and Thursday, December 24 and 25.

Regular ticket prices range from $38 to $53 depending upon seating location and performance day and time. Single tickets prices include a $1 facility fee, not subject to discount. Groups of 10 or more save up to 25% off the regular ticket price.

For more information call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

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 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 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org