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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>Ohio Shakespeare
Festival</b> presents <b><i>As You Like It<o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>at Stan Hywet Hall
& Gardens<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>July 9-25, 2009<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Ohio Shakespeare Festival is making the final preparations
for the opening of its eighth season with William Shakespeare’s <i>As You
Like It</i>, which begins its run at OSF’s summer venue, historic Stan
Hywet Hall & Gardens, in Akron on July 9. The performances continue
for three weeks, ending on July 25.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>One of Shakespeare’s favorite romantic comedies, <i>As
You Like It</i> takes place in the mythical Forest of Arden, to which most of the
Court has been banished by an evil Duke. The Duke’s daughter Celia,
her cousin Rosalind (disguised as a boy), and the court jester all pursue their
comrades into the forest, where they encounter not only their lost loved ones,
but unusual shepherds, philosophers, and Arden’s own band of merry men.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Jason and Joy Marr, founding company members of OSF, who
played romantic leads for the Festival in <i>Much Ado, Midsummer, Macbeth,
Shrew </i>and<i> Twelfth Night</i>, are returning to play lovers Orlando and
Rosalind. Jason Marr is also guest directing <i>As You Like It </i>after
many seasons with the company as an actor. Joy and Jason have extensive
credits in their hometown of NYC, encompassing almost the entire Shakespearean
canon as well as myriad other classic and contemporary shows. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Dedicated, as was Shakespeare’s own company, to the
principal of a core group of actors, many OSF favorites are returning for the
2009 season. Ernie Gonzalez, of Chicago (<i>The Comedy of Errors, Two
Gents...</i>) returns to play Touchstone the clown. Mr. Gonzalez will be
joining the Improv Conservatory Program at The Second City Chicago after this
show, following the paths of fellow comedians Jim Belushi and John Candy.
Tess Burgler (<i>I Hate Hamlet, Macbeth</i>), a recent Phi Beta Kappa, magna
cum laude grad in Theatre and Dance from The College of Wooster, plays the
princess Celia; Alfred Anderson (<i>Hamlet, The Tempest</i>), a retired star of
the opera world and current professor of opera at U. Akron, appears as Duke
Senior; along with Adam Hoffman (<i>Hamlet, Midsummer...</i>) as Amiens, Eric
Lualdi as Silvius (<i>Much Ado, Macbeth</i>), and Henry Bishop (<i>Best Little
Whorehouse..., Hamlet</i>) as Corin. Local actors Tom Stephan and
founding artistic director Terry Burgler (playing Jacques) take the honors as
the two cast members with the longest tenure, both appearing every season since
the Festival’s inception in 2002.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Performances are rain or shine at the Lagoon at Stan Hywet,
Thursdays through Sundays at 8pm. The grounds open at 6:00 for
picnicking, with concessions available for snacks and drinks. Younger
company members perform a “greenshow” of songs and dances at 7:30,
setting the mood of festivity for the evening. The beautiful grounds at
Stan Hywet are perfect for strolling, and are well suited for families.
Trams run from the parking lots to the Lagoon. Ticket prices range from
$20-$27, with student tickets for $15. Online ticketing is available at
stanhywet.org, or by calling the box office at (330) 315-3287. Stan Hywt
Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, OH 44303. OSF offices:
(330) 673-8761.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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