Anton Chekhov's Uncle Ványa kicks off the SummerScape theatre series. "Station Agent" and Richard III actor Peter Dinklage will star as "the aging Ványa, [who] supporting the slovenly retired Professor Serebriakóv, lusts after the professor's young wife, and slithers into self-loathing." Erica Schmidt will direct a contemporary-set production of Peter Schmidt's translation.
Uncle Vanya features set design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Michelle R. Phillips and lighting design by David Weiner. The production begins previews July 9 and will continue through July 20. Opening night is July 11.
The musical highlight of the Bard season will be the Gershwins' political satire Of Thee I Sing, Aug. 1-10. The 1932 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, featuring the characters President Wintergreen and Vice President Throttlebottom, sends-up presidential practices.
Created by George and Ira Gershwin with George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, the production will be directed and choreographed by Will Pomerantz and conducted by James Bagwell. The creative team will include set design by Louisa Thompson, costume design by Carol Bailey and lighting design by Justin Townsend.
Also offered will be Mark Morris Dance Group's Romeo & Juliet, On Motifs of Shakespeare, incorporating new archival material from composer Sergey Prokofiev's original orchestrations, July 4-9. Morris intends to create new choreography and utilize a radical ending abandoned by Prokofiev in 1935. The Bard Music Festival will also feature Prokofiev and His World, exploring the work of the late classical composer, Aug. 8-10 and Aug. 15-17. The event will include a program of orchestral and chamber music as well as choral concerts, lectures and symposia.
Additional programming includes the summer residency of the American Symphony Orchestra, a festival of treasured and rarely seen period films from the 1930's and the return of the entertainment venue the Spiegeltent. The Spiegeltent returns for the third year with cabaret, musical performances, family programming, dancing and drinks.
For tickets and further information phone (845) 758-7900 or visit www.summerscape.bard.edu.
