Revolutionary fervor inspires the productions chosen for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 18th season in 2009. Revolutions personal and political fuel Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and the Tony-Award winning musical 1776, and figure comically in A Midsummer Night's Dream. The season also includes a riotous romp through all of the Bard's plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), a revolution against seriousness itself. Cinderella and the free outdoor Green Show round out the season.

"Thankfully, our audience is an impassioned group, judging by the conversations we have had in the lobby, at talkbacks, through surveys and via email. That sense of passion has helped shape this exciting season," says Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy, "and is a wonderful reflection of the deepening relationship between the Festival and the community it serves."

For the first time in the Festival's history, both Shakespeare productions will be performed concurrently, rather than consecutively. Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Mulcahy, will run on the Main Stage July 15 through August 2 while A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Jim Helsinger, will be performed in the intimate 187-seat Schubert Theatre July 8 through August 2. "Visitors will be able to see two of Shakespeare's plays in a single weekend - a unique opportunity," Mulcahy says.

The schedule works in part because the season will open with a send-up of all of Shakespeare's plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), in the Schubert, running June 3 through 28. On the Main Stage, 1776 will run June 17 through July 5. Directed by PSF's Associate Artistic Director, Dennis Razze, 1776 allows the Festival to pursue programming partnerships with area historic venues and organizations, currently under development.

Cinderella, May 29 through August 1, and the Green Show, June 3 thought August 1, will be directed by Erin Mullen, PSF's resident Education Director.

Steady growth in subscription numbers continued for the fifth consecutive year in 2008, and the company hired 140 artists and artisans, including 26 Equity actors. "It was no small feat to break even in this economy, especially give our scale of production, running Cyrano de Bergerac and King Lear at the same time," says Mulcahy.

"The revolutionary spirit is about re-envisioning and reinventing the world, which, in a way, we get to do with each production. The real joy, though, is sharing the invention of those new worlds with an audience."

For more information, contact 610-282-WILL, ext. 4, www.pashakespeare.org.