Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Announces Complete Casting For Summer 2019 Season

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival announces complete casting for the 2019 Summer Season. The previously announced season will include Shakespeare's boisterous Much Ado About Nothing and adventure-filled Cymbeline, alongside the New York premiere of Cyrano, a new adaptation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac written by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, in a co-production with Two River Theater (Red Bank, NJ). HVSF will also produce its first-ever musical, the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine classic, Into the Woods. The season will also feature free matinees and touring performances of HVSF's remounted spring 2019 regional school tour of Julius Caesar. Tickets are on sale now at hvshakespeare.org.

The season begins with William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by May Adrales. The cast will feature Charlie Semine* as Benedick and Tina Chilip* as Beatrice, as well as performances from Kendall Cafarocc, Kayla Colemancc, Jon Cookcc, Brandon Dialcc, Michael Early*, Jose Gamo, Stephen Paul Johnson*, Sean McNall*, Kurt Rhoads*, Timiki Salinascc, Stephen Michael Spencer*, Alexandra Templer*, and Ryan Washingtoncc. Much Ado About Nothing will feature costume design by Valérie Thérèse Bart, lighting design by Oona Curley, sound design by Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Nellie McKay is the composer / music director and Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 9 with an official opening set for June 20, and will run through August 31.

William Shakespeare's Cymbeline, directed by HVSF Artistic Director Davis McCallum, will feature Kendall Cafarocc, Tina Chilip*, Kayla Colemancc, Jon Cookcc, Brandon Dialcc, Michael Early*, Jose Gamo, Stephen Paul Johnson*, Sean McNall*, Kurt Rhoads*, Timiki Salinascc, Charlie Semine*, Stephen Michael Spencer*, Alexandra Templer*, and Ryan Washingtoncc. Cymbeline will feature choreography by Tracy Bersley, costume design by Charlotte Palmer Lane, lighting design by Oona Curley, sound design by Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Raymond Bokhour is the composer / music director, Rod Kinter is the fight choreographer and Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 11 with an official opening set for June 22, and will run through July 27.

The HVSF and Two River Theater co-production of Cyrano, written by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, adapted from the play by Edmond Rostand, and directed by Meredith McDonough, will feature O'Connell* in the title role, Britney Simpson* as Roxane, and performances from George Merrick*, Luis Quintero*, and Nance Williamson*. Cyrano will feature scenic design by Kristen Robinson, costume design by Jessica Wegener Shay, lighting design by Paul Toben, sound design by Palmer Hefferan, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Janelle Caso will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 27 with an official opening set for June 29, and will run through August 30.

The season will conclude with HVSF's first ever musical, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning Into the Woods, which will be directed by Jenn Thompson. The cast includes Kendall Cafarocc as Rapunzel, Kayla Colemancc as Little Red, Jon Cookcc, Laura Darrell* as Cinderella/Granny, Brandon Dialcc as Jack, Rhett Guter* as Prince/Wolf, George Merrick* as Baker, Jason O'Connell* as Narrator/Mysterious Man, Luis Quintero* as Rapunzel's Prince, Leenya Rideout* as the Witch, Timiki Salinascc, Britney Simpson* as Baker's Wife, Ryan Washingtoncc as Steward, and Nance Williamson* as Jack's Mother/Stepmother. Into the Woods will feature choreography by Rhett Guter, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Matthew Richards, sound design by Ken Travis, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Amanda Morton serves as music director. Janelle Caso will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on August 1 with an official opening set for August 3, and will run through September 8.

Casting for all productions is by Stephanie Klapper Casting.

Season tickets and single tickets ($10 - $100) will be available for purchase today at hvshakespeare.org, or by getting in touch with the box office at 845.265.9575 or boxoffice@hvshakespeare.org.