Baker first appeared with The Rep in 1971. He has been a member of the resident acting companies at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater (ACT), Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center Theatre Company and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.
Baker will play the addled King in the new Milwaukee Rep production directed by artistic director Joseph Hanreddy at the Quadracci Powerhouse Theater Sept. 6-Oct. 8.
The cast of King Lear includes resident acting company members Mark Corkins (Earl of Kent/King Lear understudy); Lee E. Ernst (Fool); Lanise Antoine Shelley (Cordelia); Peter Silbert (Earl of Gloucester); and Deborah Staples (Regan). Also included in the cast are Michael Duncan (Duke of Albany/Understudy Earl of Kent); Mary Beth Fisher (Goneril); Chiké Johnson (Duke of Cornwall); Reese Madigan (Edmund); Gerard Neugent (Edgar); and John Philips (Oswald).
Members of The Rep's 2006-07 Acting Intern Company who also appear in this production are Lenny Banovez (Duke of Burgundy/Ensemble); Caroline Crocker (Ensemble); Donte Fitzgerald (Soldier/Ensemble); Andrew Goldwasser (Guide/Captain/Ensemble); Kalen N. Harriman (Ensemble); Chris Kennedy (French Officer/Ensemble); DeRanté Parker (French Messenger/Ensemble); Eric Parks (Curan/Ensemble); Rich Remedios (Knight/Ensemble); Meghan Sullivan (Ensemble); Demetrios Troy (France/Ensemble); and Brent Vimtrup (Messenger/Soldier/Ensemble).
The production and design team for King Lear includes Todd Rosenthal (scenic designer), Martha Hally (costume designer), Noele Stollmack (lighting designer), Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, (original music and sound design), Susan Sweeney (text coach), Lee E. Ernst (fight choreographer), Joseph Buberger, Jr. (stage manager), Briana J. Fahey (assistant stage manager) and Paula Bennett (assistant director). King Lear launches The Rep's 2006-07 season. John Mighton's Half Life will play the Rep's Stiemke Theater and Sam Cooke-Forever Mr. Soul will play the Stackner Cabaret during Lear's rule.
For more information, visit www.milwaukeerep.com.