Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Announces Cast for THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, 5/25-6/19

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has announced the cast of its May 25-June 19 production, The Taming of the Shrew. "Once again the Festival has attracted top-tier talent from across the country, and we are in for a fantastic season," says Executive Director Rick Dildine. As previously announced Sean Graney will direct the production with a design team that includes Scott C. Neale (Scenic Designer), Alison Siple (Costume Designer), John Wylie (Lighting Designer) and Robin Weatherall (Sound Designer).

"This design team and company of actors led by director Sean Graney is one of the best ensembles we have put together," says Dildine. The cast is led by Annie Worden as Kate and Paul Hurley as Petruchio. Worden, received her MFA from the Brown University/Trinity Rep Acting Program and has played a broad range of roles across the country. Her credits include: Twelfth Night, Cabaret (Trinity Repertory Company), The Taming of the Shrew, The Princess and the Pea (Shakespeare Santa Cruz), Dog Park (Brown Playwrights Rep), At Night it Glows, Full Circle and Mad Forest (Brown/Trinity Rep). Chicagoan Paul Hurley plays the pivotal role of Petruchio, the romantic male lead and Kate's suitor. Paul joins the cast with extensive experience, having played Romeo for Utah Shakespearean Festival's production of Romeo and Juliet, and having played lead roles in Othello, Henry V and The Tempest.

Megan M. Storti plays Bianca. Megan received her BA in Acting from Illinois State University, played Rosalind at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and performed in Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's recent production of As You Like It. Will Shaw plays Lucentio. A graduate of the Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Acting Program Will's credits include the title role in Othello and Caliban in The Tempest. Grumio is played by New Yorker Karl Gregory. Fellow New Yorker, Thomas Matthew Kelley joins the cast as Tranio, and Kurt Ehrmann, a member of Chicago's The Hypocrites, plays Vincentio, father of Lucentio, as well as the Pedant and Christopher Sly.

Returning to Shakespeare Festival St. Louis are local actors Aaron Orion Baker as Biondello, Steve Isom as Baptista, and Gary Glasgow as Gremio. This is Glasgow's ninth year with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. St. Louisan Michael James Reed, who has vast experience in television, film and theatre, plays Hortensio. Local actors, Peter Winfrey, Justin Leibrecht and Laura Sexauer, round out the cast, playing multiple ensemble roles.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis is in its eleventh year. Each year, in late spring, the Festival produces a Shakespeare play in Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park, free to the public. The Taming of the Shrew is the Festival's 2011 production, running from May 25 through June 19, 2011 (except Tuesdays). Throughout the year, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis reaches diverse audiences by providing education programs for schools and the community. For more information, call 314.531.9800, or visit our website at www.shakespearefestivalstlouis.org.

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