Tony Church, a founding member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, will conjure spells as Prospero in Denver Center Theatre Company's new staging of Shakespeare's The Tempest, opening March 18 at The Space Theatre. Previews for the romantic fantasy, directed by Anthony Powell, began March 11. Performances continue to April 17.
The production has an original score by Gary Grundei (who is also sound designer), performed live by opera singers Elizabeth Antle, Szilvia Schranz and Ingrid Lambert Shea.
In principal roles, Shannon Koob plays Miranda, Brian Shea is Ferdinand, Bruce Turk is Ariel, Robert Westenberg as Sebastian, Bill Christ as Caliban, Jamie Horton as Stephano, Robert Sicular as Trinculo, Erik Tieze as Adrian, Randy Moore as Gonzalo, Edward James Hyland as Alonso and John Hutton as Antonio.
Pavel Dobrusky is scenic and lighting designer. Andrew V. Yelusich is costume designer. Choreography is by Robert Davidson.
Church, who began his professional acting career in 1953, was a founding member of the RSC in England in 1960. He has been a DCTC actor for the eight years, appearing in Misalliance, Molly Sweeney, Racing Demon, The Dresser, Dancing at Lughnasa and The Man Who Came to Dinner, among others. He also tours in a one-man show, Give 'em a Bit of Mystery: Shakespeare and the Old Tradition.
Director Powell has worked with DCTC for 11 seasons, staging Three Tall Women, Misalliance, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and Oleanna, among others.
Ticket prices are $23-$34. For information, call (303) 893-4100 or (800) 641-1222.
-- By Kenneth Jones
