Audiences in Montgomery, AL, will see double March 3 when Alabama Shakespeare Festival begins its repertory season with Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, on the Festival Stage of the Carolyn Blount Theatre.
The staging began previews Feb. 29 and director Risa Brainin has set the comic action, about shipwrecked twins and their twin servants, on the coast of Florida, near Miami. Expect palm trees and Ray Bans.
Performances continue in repertory to July 23. The cast includes John Woodson, Wilson Cain III, Eric Ware, Carol Cofield, James Yaegashi, Chris Mixon, Sheffield Chastain, John Nagle, Quincy Tyler Bernstein, Christopher Ensweiler, John Triana, Sonja Lanzener, Anne James, Grace Hsu, Mendy Garcia, Devin Haqq, Jenny Sheffer Stevens and Regan Thompson.
Designers are Charles Caldwell (scenic), beth Novak (costume), William Grant III (lighting), Bethany Tucker (sound).
The ASF repertory season on two stages includes King Lear March 7-July 23 (Octagon Theatre), Twelfth Night March 21-July 23 (Festival), Brian Friel's adaptation of Turgenev's A Month in the Country March 28-July 23 (Octagon), Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons May 30-July 23 (Festival), and the world premiere of Regina Taylor's A Night in Tunisia May 23-July 23 (Octagon). Tickets are $20-$30. Call (334) 271-5353 or (800) 841-4273 for information or try the website at www.asf.net.
-- By Kenneth Jones