Cast Complete for Williamstown Opener, Lady Windermere's Fan, July 6-17

By Robert Simonson
June 28, 2005

Casting is complete for Oscar Wilde's comedy about marital suspicion, Lady Windermere's Fan, which will open July 6 as the first production fostered at Williamstown Theatre Festival by its new artistic director Roger Rees.

As previously announced, the revival will run July 6-17 and be directed by Moises Kaufman. Starring are the newly announced Jack Willis (Julius Caesar) as Lord Augustus Lorton, Corey Brill (Cabaret) as Lord Windermere, Derek Lucci as Parker the Butler. They join the previously announced Isabel Keating as Duchess of Berwick, Adam Rothenberg as Lord Darlington, Sandra Shipley as Lady Jedburgh, Jean Smart as Mrs. Erlynne, Samantha Soule as Lady Windermere, Benjamin Walker as Cecil Graham, and Chandler Williams as Mr. Dumby.

The designers include Neil Patel (sets), Kaye Voyce (costumes), David Lander (lights) and Andre Pluess (sound).

The festival will run July 6 through Aug. 28, beginning a bit later than the customary late-June start.

*

In other recent news, Joe Pantoliano and Sarah Chalke will star on The Nikos Stage in Create Fate by Etan Frankel (July 13-24). Michael Chernus will also star in the new work, which is directed by Christopher Ashley.

Gaby Hoffman, meanwhile, will be seen in the Nikos' next offering, The Sugar Syndrome by Lucy Prebble (July 27-Aug. 7). Patch Darragh, Tim Hopper and Betsy Aidem also star. Maria Mileaf directs.

Michael McKean will grace the Mainstage in On the Razzle, Tom Stoppard's take on Austrian playwright Johann Nestroy's 19th century farce, Einen Fux will er sich machen (which also inspired Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker). It will run Aug. 3-14, with English director David Jones (The Caretaker and No Man's Land on Broadway) in the director's chair. The cast will also feature Margaret Colin as Frau Fischer, John Lavelle as Christopher, Aasif Mandvi as Melchior, Sandra Shipley as Gertrud, Robert Stanton as Weinberl and Benjamin Walker as Sonders.

Next up after the Wilde comedy, running July 20-31, is Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, in which famous women from different ages compare notes at a fantasy dinner party. Jo Bonney, who has directed such recent New York shows as Fifth of July and Living Out, will look after Reiko Aylesworth as Lady Nijo/Win, Becky Ann Baker, Brienin Bryant as Waitress/Kit/Shona, Jessica Hecht as Marlene, Ellen McLaughlin as Pope Joan/Louise, and Elizabeth Reaser as Patient Griselda/Nell/Jeanine.

The final slot on the Mainstage is American William Inge's classic naturalistic drama Bus Stop. Will Frears (Omnium Gatherum) directs the Aug. 17-28 stay of the tale of a group of misfits and loners temporarily stuck at a roadside diner, to be played by Elizabeth Banks as Cherie, Bill Camp as Dr. Gerald Lyman, Logan Marshall-Green as Bo Decker, Laura Heisler as Elma Duckworth, Kristine Nielsen as Grace Hoyland, and David Zayas as Will Masters.

Tickets may be purchased by calling (413) 597-3400, or by visiting the box office in person.

The WTF 2005 season, in brief, is as follows:

Main Stage Season: