Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue – an appropriate direction in casting Door Shakespeare’s two comedies scheduled for this season, as both plays resolve in marriages.
Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s romp of mistaken identities, and Pride and Prejudice, a dramatization of Jane Austen’s famous romantic novel, will appear in repertory from July 8 to August 21.
Familiar faces who will be returning to the garden theater at Bjorklunden include Texas-to-Fish Creek transplant Kay Allmand (Viola, Caroline Bingley); last summer’s Mrs. Malaprop, Debra Babich (Maria, Mrs. Bennet); Amy Ensign (Jane Bennet); Leslie Ann Handelman (Olivia, Elizabeth Bennet).
Stephen Pearce (Toby Belch, Mr. Collins); composer and music director James Valcq (the clown Feste, Mr. Gardener, Fitzwilliam); and returning after a two-year absence Nathan Hosner, praised for his performances in The Importance of Being Earnest, Tartuffe and Cyrano (Malvolio, Mr. Darcy).
Newcomers to Door Shakespeare include Los Angelean, Barry Saltzman (Sir Andrew, Sir William Lucas); Green Bay native, Steven Marzolf (Orsino, Mr. Bingley); Scot West who recently finished a run of Arms and the Man at the Guthrie Theater (Sebastian, Mr. Wickham); Michelle Myers Berg (Lady Lucas, Mrs. Gardener, Lady Catherine de Bourgh); and Door County actress Anne St. Henry (Charlotte Lucas, Mrs. Reynolds).
Fans of Theatre M and February’s production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)! will recognize Mark Moede (Sea Captain, Antonio; Mr. Bennet).
A record number of eight interns joins the Door Shakespeare team this summer, with three college students returning for a second year: Emily Moulds (University Minnesota, Morehead); Bessie Tockstein (Northwestern University); and Ryan Patrick Shaw (graduate of UW-Parkside).
First-timers include Madelyn DePrey (graduate of Hamline University); Tim Murray (University of Minnesota); Lee Conrads (Carlton College); Kate Vander Velden (UW-Stevens Point); and Peter Mol (graduate from UW-Parkside).
Door Shakespeare has a case of the blues over health concerns that are preventing executive director and actress Suzanne Graff from being a part of the company at the start of the season. Diagnosed with breast cancer this spring, Graff has undergone surgery and is recouping and awaiting word on any further treatment. However, fingers are crossed that she will be able to join the troop for the last half of the season. She is anxious to collaborate with these remarkable actors and especially looks forward to working again with Valcq, who was a high school friend in Milwaukee, and Saltzman, a college friend at Indiana University.
The 2011 season is under the veteran direction of Jerry Gomis. The two shows will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the garden at Bjorklunden, Twelfth Night on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday; and Pride and Prejudice on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. For information and tickets call 920.839.1500 or visit www.DoorShakespeare.com.
