Directed by Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling, previews of the Shakespeare comedy will begin April 12 with an official opening April 18. The limited engagement will run through June 22.
Dowling's cast showcases the talents of recent Guthrie Experience (GEx) and University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program graduates. In a statement Dowling said, "In the last ten years, we have developed a large number of really wonderful actors in our BFA and Guthrie Experience programs. Midsummer is the ideal play for young people, both for those who are performing in it and those who are coming to see it, so I am delighted to have an opportunity to work with these young actors and share their incredible talents with our audiences."
The cast will include 2005 BFA graduates Jonas Goslow (Demetrius) and William Sturdivant (Lysander), 2007 BFA graduates Kathryn Lawrey (Hermia) and Valeri Mudek (Helena), GEx actors Nic Few (Oberon) and Emily Swallow (Titania), 2006 BFA graduate Namir Smallwood (Puck) and GEx alum Erin Cherry (First Fairy) with Sherwin F. Resurreccion and recent BFA graduates Ian Holcomb, Mike Rasmussen, John Skelly and Brandon Weinbrenner as the other Fairies.
Also featured will be local favorites Richard S. Iglewski (Tom Snout), Jim Lichtscheidl (Peter Quince), Stephen Pelinski (Nick Bottom), Sally Wingert (Robin Starveling) and Stephen Yoakam (Snug) as well as 1997 GEx alum Randy Reyes (Francis Flute) and Nathaniel Fuller (Egeus).
The creative team also includes Frank Hallinan Flood (scenery), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Jane Cox (lighting), Scott W. Edwards (sound), John Stead (fight and aerial effects director), Keith Thomas (composer), Marcela Lorca (movement), Michael Lupu (dramaturgy), Andrew Wade (voice and language consultant), Russell W. Johnson (production stage manager), Sarah Gioia (assistant director), Michele Harms (assistant stage manager) and Joel Harris (assistant fight and aerial effects director). The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue) in downtown Minneapolis. Tickets, priced $24-$69, are available by calling (612) 377-2224 or by visiting www.guthrietheater.org.
