Butz, Blanchard, Rensenhouse, Matthews and Lorette Lead Shakespeare Festival St. Louis’ HAMLET

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis announced the full cast of this season's production of Hamlet, running May 26-June 20, 2010. As previously announced, St. Louisan and Kevin Kline Award winner Jim Butz plays the title role. Joining Butz will be Justin Blanchard (Broadway's Journey's End) as Laertes; John Rensenhouse as Claudius; Anderson Matthews as Polonius; Deanne Lorette as Gertrude; Rob Krakovski as Ghost/Player King; and Kimiye Corwin as Ophelia.

Jim Butz, has enjoyed working in New York and in regional theatres across the country. Credits include: The Odyssey (The Willow Cabin Theatre Company - Off-Broadway), Amadeus, Richard II, As You Like It, The Winter's Tale, Tartuffe, Twelfth Night (The Georgia Shakespeare Festival), Lobby Hero and A Number (The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Julius Caesar (Kevin Kline Award, Best Supporting Actor), Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis), Biloxi Blues, A Christmas Carol (The Geva Theatre), The Lion in Winter (Indiana Repertory Theatre), Romeo & Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew-Shakespeare Santa Fe.

Rounding out the cast are Jason Cannon (Horatio), Gary Glasgow (Osiric), Whit Reichert (Marcellus/First gravedigger), Cale Haupert (Bernardo/Second gravedigger), Cameron Davis (Reynaldo), Lindsey Warren (Player Queen), Mark Kelley (Rosencrantz), Matt Folsom (Guildenstern), AaRon Baker (Fortinbras), Terry Meadows (Cornelius/Priest) and Aaron Sitrick (English Ambassador/member).

Each year the Festival produces professional Shakespeare theatre in Forest Park free to the public, and year-round Education Programs. The Festival's10th anniversary 2010 production, Hamlet, runs May 26 through June 20, nightly except Tuesdays and June 5. For more information about the Festival and its Education Programs, visit www.shakespearefestivalstlouis.org or call 314.531.9800.