Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Launches Landmark 20th Season

Even as it celebrates 20 years of producing Shakespeare and classical theatre, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival announces a multitude of firsts:

For the first time, the company will offer two plays in rep, Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice, with the same cast alternating performances daily - and sometimes within the same day.

For the first time, PSF will produce six major productions in one season, (up from five) including three Shakespeare plays.

For the first time, PSF will rehearse a play, Shakespeare's The Two Noble Kinsmen, the way Shakespeare's company would have: no directors, no designers, the actors will arrive with their lines learned, wear what they can find, and open within a few days on adrenaline and spontaneity.

Also, a limited edition collector's book, Majestic Vision: The Photography of Lee Butz at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has been published. Featuring hundreds of photos selected from 40,000+, the book is the culmination of three years work...and 19 seasons of PSF history.

The 20th anniversary season features Shakespeare's Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, and The Two Noble Kinsmen (which he wrote with John Fletcher); South Pacific; Pride and Prejudice, Sleeping Beauty and, Shakespeare for Kids, and runs June 3 through August 7 on the Center Valley campus of DeSales University.

Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy will direct Hamlet; he returns to the director's chair every other year, and last directed Antony and Cleopatra in PSF's record-breaking 2009 season. Hamlet runs July 20 through August 7 on the Main Stage.

Pride and Prejudice, in rep with Hamlet on the Main Stage July 19 - August 7, is directed by Erin Hurley, PSF education director who has directed more than a dozen productions at the Festival, including the company's fall touring productions of Shakespeare plays for the past four seasons.

Russell Treyz, who has directed many productions for PSF since the company's inaugural season, returns to direct The Comedy of Errors, to be performed in the Schubert Theatre June 22 - July 17.

Opening on the Main Stage is South Pacific, directed by Associate Artistic Director Dennis Razze - who has directed every musical PSF has produced since the company introduced musicals into its programming in 2004 with the acclaimed production of Man of La Mancha.

Erin Hurley will also direct Sleeping Beauty (running June 3 - August 6), and serve as playwright for Shakespeare for Kids (July 27 - August 6).

Providing operating support for the entire Festival are Season Sponsors Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan. Associate Season Sponsors are The Morning Call, Harry C. Trexler Trust, and Service Electric Cable TV and Communications. Director Sponsors are Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth.

Season tickets and single tickets are available by calling 610.282.WILL [9455] or online at pashakespeare.org.