Shaw Fest Announces Cast for RAGTIME, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, PRESENT LAUGHTER

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell proudly announced the casting and creative teams for the three plays featured next season on The Shaw's Festival Theatre stage. In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell noted: "I am so inspired by the range of talent we've assembled to make up our 2012 Ensemble. This extraordinary group of artists will bring to life the vivid contemporary ideas of each and every playwright whose work we are proudly presenting."

After a successful run on Broadway in PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, Thom Allison returns to The Shaw to play Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the Terrence McNally/Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty musical epic RAGTIME. He last appeared at The Shaw in the 2008 production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Kate Hennig, who wowed Broadway and Toronto audiences in BILLY ELLIOT, returns to The Shaw after a seven year (2005, GYPSY) absence to appear as Emma Goldman. They are joined by Patty Jamieson as Mother, Jay Turvey as Tateh, Benedict Campbell as Father, Alana Hibbert as Sarah, Julie Martell as Evelyn Nesbitt and EVan Alexander Smith as Younger Brother.

Ragtime has previews starting April 10. It opens May 26 and closes October 14. Creative team includes a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty. It is directed by Jackie Maxwell, musical direction by Paul Sportelli, choreography by Valerie Moore, designed by Sue LePage, lighting design by Alan Brodie, sound design by John Lott and projection design by Sean Nieuwenhuis.

Returning for her sixth season at The Shaw, Nicole Underhay portrays ace reporter Hildebrand ‘Hildy" Johnson. Benedict Campbell is the irascible editor Walter Burns, with Neil Barclay, Kevin Bundy, Kevin Hanchard, Peter Krantz, Ric Reid and Jeff Meadows filling up the newsroom as fellow hack reporters and visitors in HIS GIRL FRIDAY.

Previews begin June 10. The show opens July 7 and closes October 5.

It was adapted by John Guare, from The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur and the Columbia Pictures film HIS GIRL FRIDAY.

It is directed by Jim Mezon, designed by Peter Hartwell, lighting design by Kevin Lamotte and original music and sound design by John Gzowski.

PRESENT LAUGHTER brings O'Connell & Sutcliffe back together again. They first appeared as adversaries in the 2010 production of AN IDEAL HUSBAND, then in the 2011 season they were stranded on an island together in THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON. In 2012, Moya O'Connell and Steven Sutcliffe will delight audiences again when they appear together in Noël Coward's classic comedy, PRESENT LAUGHTER. Steven Sutcliffe will add the celebrated role of Garry Essendine to his long list of credits and will also be joined on stage by Claire Jullien and Mary Haney along with Patrick McManus, Gray Powell, Julia Course, Jonathan Tan and Jennifer Phipps.

PRESENT LAUGHTER begins previews May 3, opens May 23, and closes October 28.
Directed by David Schurmann, designed by William Schmuck and lighting design by Kevin Lamotte.

Casting for the Court House Theatre, Royal George Theatre and Studio Theatre will be announced at a later date.

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