The much anticipated Stratford Festival casting for 2015 was recently announced.

Commenting on the continued pairing of Seana McKenna and Geraint Wyn Davies, the Stratford Festival’s Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino noted “Our audiences find great joy in watching them work together…the relationship between Seana McKenna and Geraint Wyn Davies that began with Mary Stuart and grew as the love interest in Mother Courage will continue – with great electricity – in Hamlet and The Physicists next year.

As with others in the company, the level of trust between these two extraordinary actors allows for a sense of improvisation, a sense of freedom.”

Highlights

Below, in alphabetical order, are the highlights of the Stratford Festival’s casting for 2015.

The Adventures of Pericles
Directed by Scott Wentworth
Beloved for his heart-rending and richly drawn characterizations,
Evan Buliung will play the title role in Shakespeare’s sweeping drama.

The production will also feature Deborah Hay as Thaisa, Marina and Antiochus’s Daughter, and Brigit Wilson as the Bawd.

The Alchemist
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Three true Festival favourites will team up in Mr. Cimolino’s production of Ben Jonson’s satirical comedy The Alchemist: Jonathan Goad as Face, Stephen Ouimette as Subtle, and Scott Wentworth as Epicure Mammon.

Carousel
Directed by Susan H. Schulman
After stealing hearts as Lancelot in 2011’s Camelot and touring to Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar, Jonathan Winsby returns to play Billy Bigelow in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel.

Firmly by his side will be Alexis Gordon, making her Stratford debut as Julie Jordan.

The Diary of Anne Frank
Directed by Jillian Keiley.
After playing two of Shakespeare’s most significant young women – Cordelia and Jessica – rising star Sara Farb will take on one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures: Anne Frank.

Lucy Peacock will play her mother, Mrs. Frank, with Joseph Ziegler playing her father, Mr.
Frank.

Hamlet
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Highly regarded for his profoundly emotive performances, Jonathan Goad will take on the role of Hamlet in the 2015 season opener. The production’s stellar cast also features Seana McKenna as Gertrude and Geraint Wyn Davies as Claudius and the Ghost.

The Last Wife
Directed by Alan Dilworth
Maev Beaty, who fast won a place as a leading player this season with her highly lauded portrayal of Goneril in King Lear, will play Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, in the world première of Kate Hennig’s new play.

The production will also feature Sara Farb as Mary and Joseph Ziegler as Henry.

Love’s Labour’s Lost
Directed by John Caird
Mike Shara, who in just six seasons has become one of the Festival’s best-loved performers, will play Berowne in Shakespeare’s vivacious comedy.

The production will also feature Tom Rooney as Holofernes.

Oedipus Rex
Directed by Daniel Brooks
Gord Rand will return for his second Stratford season to play King Oedipus.
Yanna McIntosh, hot off her powerful performance as Cleopatra in this season’s Antony and Cleopatra, will play Jocasta.

The Physicists
Directed by Miles Potter
After their electrifying performances in Mother Courage and Her Children, Seana McKenna and Geraint Wyn Davies will light up the stage once more in The Physicists, playing Fräulein Doktor Mathilde von Zahnd and Johann Wilhelm Möbius.

They will be joined by Graham Abbey, playing Herbert Georg Beutler (alias “Newton”).

Possible Worlds
Directed by Mitchell Cushman
Casting still to come.

She Stoops to Conquer
Directed by Martha Henry
Together on the Stratford stage for the first time since 2009’s The Trespassers, Lucy Peacock and Joseph Ziegler will play Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle in the hilarious Oliver Goldsmith comedy.

Maev Beaty will play their daughter, Kate Hardcastle, with Sara Farb as Constance Neville and Tyrone Savage as Hastings.

The Sound of Music
Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore
Stephanie Rothenberg, who recently played Rosemary in the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, will make her Stratford debut as Maria in The Sound of Music.

Ben Carlson will mark his eighth season with his first role in a Stratford musical, playing Captain von Trapp

The Taming of the Shrew
Directed by Chris Abraham.
Ben Carlson and Deborah Hay will reunite on the Festival stage as the sparring lovers Petruchio and Katherina. Sparks last flew between the pair when they played Benedick and Beatrice in the Festival’s 2012 production
of Much Ado About Nothing.

This post is published with the support of Avery House,
luxurious accommodation in Stratford.
Book now for 2015.

Casting details available at this official Stratford Festival press release PDF

by Keith Tomasek
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