Stratford Shakespeare Festival Announces Additional Casting in Plummer, Kennedy & Therriault Led 2010 Productions

Toronto's The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has revealed revealed additional casting for its 2010 season.  The stars include Christopher Plummer, Chilina Kennedy, Juan Chioran, Michael Therriault and Geraint Wyn Davies for the Festival's productions of The Tempest, Evita, Kiss Me Kate, Peter Pan and Do Not Go Gentle. Nikki M. James, who was previously set to star alongside Plummer has withdrawn from the festival due to "personal reasons."

As previously reported, Christopher Plummer will star in The Tempest. The production will be directed by Stratford artistic director Des McAnuff (of Jersey Boys fame).  He will now be joined by James Blendick as Gonzalo, Bruce Dow as Trinculo, Peter Hutt as Alonso, Dion Johnstone as Caliban, Trish Lindström as Miranda, Gareth Potter as Ferdinand, Timothy D. Stickney as Sebastian, John Vickery as Antonio and Geraint Wyn Davies as Stephano. The production will feature set design by Robert Brill, costume design by Paul Tazewell, and lighting design by Michael Walton.

Chilina Kennedy, who played Maria in Stratford's 2009 smash, West Side Story, will once again join West Side director Gary Griffin to play Eva Peron in Evita this upcoming year.  She will be co-starring opposite Juan Chioran in the role of Juan Peron.  The production will also feature Vince Staltari as Magaldi. The creative team will include musical director Rick Fox, choreographer Tracey Flye, set designer Douglas Paraschuk, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, and lighting designer Kevin Fraser.

Chioran will also star in John Doyle's staging of Kiss Me, Kate, who will also feature Monique Lund as Lilli Vanessi, Chilina Kennedy as Lois Lane, and Mike Jackson as Bill Calhoun. The creative team will include musical director Franklin Brasz, choreographer Tracey Flye, and designer David Farley.

Michael Therriault (The Tin Pan Alley Rag) will play the title role in Peter Pan, while appearing in "The Tempest." Tim Carroll will direct Peter Pan, with Tom McCamus as Captain Hook, Sean Cullen as Smee, Paul Dunn as John, Stacie Steadman as Michael, and Sara Topham as Wendy. The production team includes Carolyn M. Smith (set) and Kevin Fraser (lights).

Brent Carver leads Jacques in As You Like It, helmed by McAnuff, alongside Ben Carlson as Touchstone, Andrea Runge as Rosalind, Paul Nolan as Orlando, Mike Shara as Oliver, Lucy Peacock as Audrey, Cara Ricketts as Celia, and Tom Rooney as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior. The design team features Debra Hanson (set), Dana Osborne (costumes), and Michael Walton (lighting).

Marti Maraden will direct Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, with Ben Carlson as Leontes, Yanna McIntosh as Hermione, Seana McKenna as Paulina, Cara Ricketts as Perdita, Mike Shara as Young Shepherd, Sean Arbuckle as Camillo, Dan Chameroy as Polixenes, Ian Lake as Florizeland Tom Rooney as Autolycus. The creative team features John Pennoyer (set) and Louise Guinand (lights).

The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Dean Gabourie, features Dion Johnstone as Valentine, Gareth Potter as Proteus, Sophia Walker as Julia, Claire Lautier as Silvia, Bruce Dow as Speed, and Robert Persichini as Launce. Lorenzo Savoini serves as set and lighting designer, withTamara Marie Kucheran on costumes.

Ethan McSweeny will direct Dangerous Liaisons, featuring Tom McCamus as Le Vicomte de Valmont, Seana McKenna as La Marquise de Merteuil, Sara Topham as La Présidente de Tourvel, Martha Henry as Mme de Rosemonde, Bethany Jillard as Cécile Volanges, and Yanna McIntosh as Mme de Volanges. The creative team will include Santo Loquasto (set) and Robert Thomson (lights).

Stafford Arima will direct Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, which will star Carver in addition to Mike Nadajewski and additional cast members to be announced. The creative team will be led by musical director Laura Burton, with costume design by Jessica Poirier-Chang, and lighting design by Steven Hawkins.

Additional festival features include George F. Walker's King of Thieves, directed by Jennifer Tarver and starring Sean Cullen and Evan Buliung; Michel Tremblay's For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, directed by Chris Abraham and starring Lucy Peacock and Tom Rooney; and Geraint Wyn Davies in the one-man show Do Not Go Gentle, by Leon Pownall, about the life of Dylan Thomas and to be directed by Dean Gabourie.

For more information and updates visit http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/.