July 15 – August 2
Main Stage
Directed by Patrick Mulcahy
Tickets: $25 - $49
Student rush: $10

Fueled by legend, passion for the transcendent, and the quest for power, Antony & Cleopatra makes its debut at PSF this summer. Based on the electrifying relationship between celebrated Roman warrior Mark Antony and sultry Egyptian queen Cleopatra, Antony & Cleopatra is set amidst the impending rise of the Roman Empire and its quest to control its exotic eastern frontiers.

“It’s a play most people have not seen on stage,” notes producing artistic director, Patrick Mulcahy, who is directing. “Yet, some consider it Shakespeare’s most wonderful play for its valiancy, insight, depth and energy. There is a electricity in rehearsals that is indescribable.” He adds, “these are the joys of delving deeply into the Shakespeare canon, as we did last year with King Lear and The Winter’s Tale in 2007.”

The production previews July 15 and July 16, opens July 17, and runs through August 2 on the Main Stage. Single ticket prices range from $25 to $49, and $10 for student rush 30 minutes prior to curtain. Performances are 7pm Tuesdays, 8pm Wednesdays through Saturdays (additional 2pm matinees are Saturday, July 25 and August 1), and Sundays at 2 pm (with an additional 7:30pm show on July 19). For tickets call 610.282.WILL [9455] or online at www.pashakespeare.org.

Production sponsor is Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

Antony & Cleopatra begins four years after Julius Caesar’s death, with the brilliant warrior Mark Antony ruling Rome as one of three triumvirs. Julius Caesar’s nephew and adopted son, Octavius Caesar and Aemilius Lepidus also rule. Antony however, prefers to spend his time in Alexandria with his mistress, Cleopatra. He is forced to return to Rome with the impending threat from Pompey, but inexplicably finds himself drawn back to Cleopatra. Antony’s loyalty soon shifts to Egypt as he and Cleopatra fight for fulfillment of their immeasurable passion.

Says Mulcahy, “the plot unfolds in antiquity; but the play is about people in any era. The play focuses on the universal human ache to transcend earthly limitation, to achieve a soaring experience – perfection.”

Playing the celebrated warrior Mark Antony is PSF veteran actor Greg Wood, who played the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac last season. Stepping into the role of Cleopatra is Lauren Lovett. Lovett was last seen at PSF playing Rosalind in As You Like It in 2006.

The captivating role of Cleopatra is demanding, arguably one of Shakespeare’s most complex female characters. Lovett says she prepared for the role by trying to “imagine being a woman of such reputed power and magnetism—a queen in a world of brutal male rulers—who has at last found the man with whom she might die, or at least for whom she might die.”

The ‘scarce-bearded’ Octavius Caesar, a shrewd and manipulative politician who stands in the way of Antony and Cleopatra’s happiness, is played by Jacob R. Dresch, a veritable PSF prodigy in his second summer with the Festival.

Other supporting roles include Dominitius Enobarbus, a follower of Antony portrayed by Barrymore-nominee Anthony Lawton. Scarus, a loyal friend of Antony, is played by H. Michael Walls. Walls’ recent PSF credits include 2007 productions of The Winter’s Tale and The Taming of the Shrew.

Wayne S. Turney plays three alternating roles: Lepidus, a schoolmaster, and a clown. Last season he provided comic relief in Cyrano de Bergerac in his role as Ragueneau. Ian Merrill Peakes also plays alternating roles of Canidius, a general of Antony’s, and Proculeius, a lieutenant to Octavius. Peakes played Iago, Benedick, and Hotspur for PSF and is the winner of the 2003 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Artist in Philadelphia.

Spencer Plachy, who portrays Thomas Jefferson in PSF’s current production of 1776, will play Agrippa, the military commander and advisor of Octavius. Last summer at PSF he was Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac.

Erin Clare Hurley plays Charmian, a maid of honor attending Cleopatra. Last season Hurley was seen playing Viola in Twelfth Night.

The designers for Antony and Cleopatra are Steve TenEyck, sets and lighting; Lisa L. Zinni, costumes; and Matthew Given, sound.

TenEyck designs for theatre, dance, opera, performance art and live event both nationally and internationally. Credits include Tacoma Opera, Syracuse Opera, Big Art Group New York City, and Pacific Performance Project.

Zinni is a Barrymore-nominated costume designer, whose New York design credits include productions Off Broadway and with New York Musical Theatre Festival. She served as associate costume designer for Rent for 12 years and recently served as assistant costume designer for the Broadway hit revival of Hair.

This is Matt Given’s sixth season as resident sound designer and his second as production manager for PSF.

Blair Walsleben is the Production Stage Manager.

The 2009 Festival also features the Tony Award-winning musical 1776 (through July 5 on the Main Stage), Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (July 8-August 2, in the Schubert); Cinderella (through August 1, in the Schubert Theatre). A new production, Shakespeare for Kids, runs on the Main Stage with performances July 22-25 & July 28-August 1 at 10am. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) ran June 3 through June 28, and has closed.

The free outdoor Green Show completes the season's offerings and is performed one hour prior to each evening performance.

Single ticket prices range from $25 to $49. Discounts are available for subscribers, seniors, students, and groups. Season tickets are still available and offer patrons the greatest discounts and flexibility. Tickets can be ordered by calling 610-282 WILL or online at www.pashakespeare.org.

Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Szarko are the 2009 Season Sponsors. Associate Season Sponsors are the Harry C. Trexler Trust, The Morning Call and Service Electric Cable TV & Communications.

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University is the Official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth and a professional, not-for-profit theatre company. An independent 501 c 3 organization, PSF receives support from DeSales University and relies on contributions from individuals, government agencies, corporations and foundations. PSF is a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, and a member of the Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America.

For ticket information, contact PSF at 610-282-WILL or online at www.pashakespeare.org.

Principal Artists’ Biographies

PATRICK MULCAHY (Director; Producing Artistic Director, PSF) Since assuming leadership in 2003, Mr. Mulcahy has overseen PSF's return to artistic excellence and financial stability, rebuilding the professional company of artists and achieving increasing national recognition for the Festival. Further accomplishments include: PSF’s awards from the National Endowment for the Arts; featuring artists who are winners and nominees of the Tony, Obie, Emmy, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Jefferson and Barrymore awards to the Festival; growth in all income areas; a 50% increase in attendance, and the expansion of the number of Actors’ Equity contracts per season. As a professional director, actor, and fight director, his credits include Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theatre, television and radio. For PSF, he directed The Winter’s Tale (2007), Henry IV, Part 1 (2005), The Tempest (1999) and acted in and served as fight director for The Taming of the Shrew (1998) and Julius Caesar (1997). As Head of Acting at DeSales, he directed ten productions for DeSales University, including I Hate Hamlet, The Grapes of Wrath, The Foreigner and The Diary of Anne Frank. He holds an M.F.A. in directing from Syracuse University.

JASMINE BRACEY (A Soothsayer) is making her professional acting debut at PSF. She has just finished her first year as an M.F.A. candidate at the Professional Theatre Training Program at the University of Delaware. Some of her educational theatre credits include Mrs. Alving in Ghosts, Phoebe in As You Like It, and Inez in Our Lady of 121st Street. Jasmine has a BA in Theatre from Florida State University and a professional certificate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in musical theatre. JACOB R. DRESCH (Octavius Caesar) is in his second summer as a PSF intern. Earlier this season he appears as Roger Sherman in 1776. His credits include DeSales University Act 1’s production of Sunday in the Park with George as George Seurat.

MATTHEW GIVEN (Sound Designer) also designed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), 1776, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He recently became PSF’s full-time production manager. This season marks his sixth as resident sound designer. Some PSF designs include: Dracula, King Lear, The Winter’s Tale, and The Merchant of Venice. He has also designed at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, The Gala Hispanic Theatre, Rutgers University, and theatres in New York City. He holds an M.F.A. in sound design from Ohio University.

ERIN CLARE HURLEY (Charmian) is PSF’s Education Director and in her 10th summer as a company member. This season she directed Cinderella and Shakespeare For Kids and also served as a director/choreographer for The Green Show. Education Directing credits include: Much Ado, Macbeth, Hamlet (WillPower Tours), The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh and Green Show. Acting credits include: Viola in Twelfth Night, PSF, Anne of Green Gables (Barrymore nomination Outstanding Leading Actress) People’s Light and Theatre Company, and The Cleveland Play House. M.F.A.: Case Western Reserve University, B.A.: DeSales University.

ANDREW KANE (Menas/Thidias) returns for his fourth season. A graduate of DeSales University, previous PSF credits include Twelfth Night, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Taming of the Shrew, Othello, and The Green Show among others. Philadelphia credits include Laertes in Hamlet (Lantern), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Theatre Horizon), Cinderella (People’s Light), and the Barrymore-nominated cast of Go, Dog. Go! (Arden).

ZACH KLEINSMITH (Maecenas/Dolabella) also appears in Shakespeare for Kids. PSF credits include: Don John (Much Ado About Nothing, 2008 WillPower Tour). Regional: A Nice Family Gathering (Dixie Theatre, FL), Peter Pan (Actors’ Theatre of Louisville). New York: Camino Real, Waiting for Lefty, Veritas, Orson's Shadow. Other Shakespeare includes: The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, Pericles, The Winter's Tale, Midsummer, and Henry V. He has also taught Shakespeare workshops for the Classic Stage Company in NYC.

ANTHONY LAWTON (Domitius Enobarbus) is in fifth season at PSF. Favorite roles: George in Of Mice and Men, Austin in True West; Stephano in The Tempest, Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons, and Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream; and his solo shows, The Devil and Billy Markham, The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters. He appeared in M. Night Shyamalan's film, Unbreakable. His first original play, The Foocy, garnered five Barrymore nominations, including Best New Play.

LAUREN LOVETT (Cleopatra) PSF: As You Like It (Rosalind), The Merchant of Venice (Portia); L.A. Theatre: Therese Raquin (Therese), Ensemble Theatre; Spin (Sally), Theatre 40; iWitness (Margaret u/s), Mark Taper Forum. NY Theatre: The Merchant of Venice (Portia u/s), Public Theater; Perfect Crime (Margaret u/s), Duffy Theater; Regional: Rabbit Hole (Becca), Bad Dates (One-woman show), The Glass Menagerie (Laura), The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolyn), Immigrant (Leah), IRT; Lobby Hero (Dawn), Old Globe Theater; Twelfth Night (Viola), NJ Shakespeare; Dutchman (Lula), Providence Black Rep; Fraulein Else (Cissy), Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theater, McCarter Theater. TV, Guiding Light.

IAN MERRILL PEAKES (Canidius/Proculeius) Regional: Denver Center: Glengarry Glen Ross (Roma- Ovation Award Nomination); Actors Theatre of Louisville: The Crucible (John Proctor), 12th Night (Orsino); Folger Shakespeare Theatre, DC: Macbeth (Macbeth - Helen Hayes Nomination), Melissa Arctic, Two Gents; Shakespeare Santa Cruz: Much Ado (Benedict); Boarshead Theatre: Hamlet (Hamlet). Philadelphia (Home): Arden: Ros. and Guil. Are Dead, All My Sons (Barrymore Award), Three Days of Rain among others; Walnut Street; People’s Light; Wilma: Invention of Love; Philadelphia Theater Company: Sideman (Barrymore Award); Theatre Exile: Red Light Winter (Barrymore Nomination); Philadelphia Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Barrymore Nomination); PSF: Othello (Iago), Henry IV Part I (Hotspur), As You Like It (Orlando), The Glass Menagerie; TV: Still Standing, Hack, Homicide. Winner of the 2003 F. Otto Haas Award for Emerging Artist in Philadelphia.

SPENCER PLACHY (Agrippa) also appears as Thomas Jefferson in 1776. PSF credits include: Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac, one of the Venticelli in Amadeus, and Freddy in My Fair Lady. National Tours: Curly in Oklahoma! and Perchik (U.S.) in Fiddler on the Roof. He just finished a season at The Alley Theatre in Houston, TX appearing in the productions: Cyrano de Bergerac, A Christmas Carol, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll. Other roles include Chad in All Shook Up, Ethan in The Full Monty (both in Lancaster, PA).

JULIA STROUP (Octavia) a senior theatre major at DeSales University, Julia returns for her third season with the Festival. She will also play Fairy Godmother/ Mother in Cinderella. Last season she appeared in The Jungle Book and Cyrano de Bergerac. Recent DeSales credits include Yvonne in Sunday in the Park with George and Miss Casewell in The Mousetrap.

STEVE TENEYCK (Scenic and Lighting Designer) Design work in theatre, dance, opera, performance art and live event has been seen both nationally and internationally. Companies include Tacoma Opera, Syracuse Opera, Minnesota Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Syracuse Stage, TACT ­NYC, Big Art Group NYC, Pacific Performance Project, The Kitchen Theatre Company, The Hangar Theatre, Merry-go-Round, Ensemble Theatre, and The Herson Group Ltd. Beyond his freelance work, Steve teaches lighting design at Ithaca College and received his M.F.A. from the University of Washington in Seattle.

WAYNE S. TURNEY (Lepidus/Schoolmaster/Clown) portrayed Ragueneau in Cyrano de Bergerac last season. Other PSF credits: Archidamus/Antigonus/Old Shepherd in The Winter’s Tale, Colonel Pickering in My Fair Lady, and Argan in The Imaginary Invalid. Now an Associate Professor with the Performing and Fine Arts faculty at DeSales, he recently played Willy Loman in DeSales’ production of Death of a Salesman. Turney was formerly a regular with the Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Actors’ Summit, and the Cleveland PlayHouse, among others.

H. MICHAEL WALLS (Scarus) is in his seventeenth PSF production since first appearing in 1995’s Hamlet. Last season he appeared in Cyrano de Bergerac. He has appeared in most of the area’s regional theatres, including Theatre Exile’s Barrymore-winning cast of Glen Garry, Glen Ross and The Wilma’s Amadeus, as well as DC’s Arena and Studio Theatres and the 92nd Street Y in New York City.

BLAIR WALSLEBEN (Production Stage Manager) also worked as production stage manager for 1776. Favorite PSF productions include: Cyrano de Bergerac, The Taming of the Shrew (2007), Amadeus, Sleuth, Othello, and Aladdin. Other favorites include: My Fair Lady, Altar Boyz, and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Media Theatre), Alice in Wonderland (SSRT), and numerous productions at Bristol Riverside Theatre including: I Do! I Do!, Around the World in Eighty Days, Forever Plaid, Moon Over Buffalo, I Married Wyatt Earp (world premiere), Fences, and Olympus on My Mind.

GREG WOOD (Mark Antony) At PSF: Cyrano de Bergerac, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Richard III, Moon for the Misbegotten, and others. Recent credits include: The Seafarer at the Arden Theatre Co., Born Yesterday at the Walnut St. Theatre and Rounding Third at Cape May Stage. Film and television credits include: The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Happening, The Lovely Bones, A Gentleman’s Game, Law & Order, Ed, Hack, and Homicide.

LISA L. ZINNI (Costume Designer) is currently the Assistant Costume Designer for the Broadway revival of Hair. She was the Associate Designer for the Broadway company of Rent for its 12 year run as well as many of the international companies of Rent including Italy, China, the UK and Canada and all of the previous US tours, as well as the current national tour. She is in her 10th season designing at PSF over the last 14 years, where productions include Midsummer (94’) The Comedy of Errors, All’s Well That Ends Well, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Charley’s Aunt, Hamlet, Man of La Mancha, The Imaginary Invalid, My Fair Lady, Amadeus, and The Mystery of Irma Vep. Her New York design credits include productions Off Broadway and with The New York Musical Theatre Festival, The Fringe Festival, Ars Nova, The Oak Room at the Algonquin. Her regional credits include: The Arden Theatre Co. (Barrymore nomination for Go, Dog. Go!), Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Syracuse Stage, Cape Playhouse, and Bristol Riverside Theatre.