Greg Derelian plays the Roman general turned politician. Celeste Ciulla is his venomous mother Volumnia.

On June 13, Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, starring Broadway's Patrick Page, began previews toward a June 27 opening. Page also plays lovestruck Malvolio in Twelfth Night, which began June 17 toward a July 1 opening. All three works play in rep at the Globe's outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The rotation continues to Sept. 27 at the San Diego, CA, theatre known for classic and contemporary titles.

Paul Mullins directs Twelfth Night. Old Globe resident artistic director Darko Tresnjak directs Coriolanus and Cyrano de Bergerac.

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According to Old Globe, "Shakespeare's final tragedy is also considered one of his greatest. This powerful political drama tells the story of the great Roman general (played by Greg Derelian) whose arrogance leads to his own downfall. One of Shakespeare's most provocative plays, Coriolanus is a mesmerizing tale that unfolds as both personal tragedy and political thriller. From exalted war hero to heavy-handed politician to finally, exile, Coriolanus is manipulated by his power hungry mother Volumnia (Celeste Ciulla), one of Shakespeare's great female roles, and his unwillingness to compromise his principles as his world spirals out of control in his crusade for vengeance." *

Page (Broadway's A Man For All Seasons, The Lion King, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas) was seen on the Globe stage last year in The Pleasure of His Company and the musical Dancing in the Dark.

The summer repertory company includes Globe associate artist Charles Janasz (Shakespeare Festival 2002-2008), Celeste Ciulla (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Hamlet, Titus Andronicus, Othello), Greg Derelian, Grant Goodman, Dana Green, Brendan Griffin (Back Back Back), Eric Hoffmann (The Merry Wives of Windsor, All's Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure), Katie MacNichol (The Merry Wives of Windsor, All's Well That Ends Well, The Winter's Tale, Macbeth), James Newcomb, Bruce Turk (The Merry Wives of Windsor, All's Well That Ends Well, Hamlet, The Winter's Tale) and Gerritt Vandermeer, as well as the students in The Old Globe/USD Professional Actor Training Program: Ashley Clements, Andrew Dahl, Vivia Font, Catherine Gowl, Sloan Grenz, Kevin Hoffmann, Brian Lee Huynh, Jordan McArthur, Kern McFadden, Steven Marzolf, Brooke Novak, Aubrey Saverino, Tony Von Halle and Barbra Wengerd.

The Festival creative team includes Globe associate artist Ralph Funicello (set designer); Linda Cho (costume designer for Twelfth Night); Anna R. Oliver (costume designer for Coriolanus and Cyrano de Bergerac); York Kennedy (lighting designer); Chris Walker (sound designer); Mary K Klinger (stage manager); and Moira Gleason, Jen Wheeler and Erin Albrecht (assistant stage managers).

For a complete schedule of the Shakespeare Festival, visit www.theoldglobe.org/calendar/index.aspx.

Tickets are available by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, or by visiting the Globe Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

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Here's how The Old Globe characterizes its 2009 Summer Shakespeare Festival productions:

"Set in Paris in 1640, Cyrano de Bergerac is a classic tale of romance and tragedy. Talented poet, swordsman and Cadet in the French army, Cyrano falls in love with the beautiful Roxane but lacks the confidence to reveal his true feelings due to his abnormally large nose. Resigned to his loss, Cyrano offers to help his fellow soldier Christian win her affections by writing love letters on his behalf. Roxane falls in love with author of the letters not realizing it is Cyrano. His tender verse gives voice to the inarticulate, dashing Christian, gaining him her heart just before both men depart for war. This classic romantic story is laced with swagger, gallantry and sacrifice, and some of the most beautiful verse ever written."

"One of the Bard's most beloved comedies, Twelfth Night centers on the beautiful heroine Viola (Dana Green), shipwrecked in a strange land. She disguises herself as the boy 'Cesario' and works her way into the court of Duke Orsino (Gerritt Vandermeer). Impressed by this articulate and handsome young man, Orsino sends Cesario to woo Lady Olivia (Katie MacNichol) on the Duke's behalf, but Cesario speaks so eloquently that Olivia is soon smitten — not with the Duke, but with Cesario. Meanwhile Viola has fallen in love with Orsino and finds herself, along with an entire comic entourage, entangled in a web of disguises, mistaken identities and misplaced affections."