Simon Callow Joins Canada's 2008 Stratford Festival

Simon Callow is the latest international star to be added to the Stratford Festival's ranks. Mr. Callow will be presenting a new work of his own composition, based on Shakespeare's sonnets.

Entitled There Reigns Love, this one-man show was commissioned by the Stratford Festival for the 2008 season. The production, to be presented at the Tom Patterson Theatre, will be directed by Michael Langham, the Festival's artistic director from 1956-67, who will also be directing the young company in Love's Labour's Lost.

Working from Shakespeare's text and the theories of distinguished British psychoanalyst John Padel, Callow will present the story he sees buried in the 154 poems by our greatest writer.

Other artists already announced for the 2008 season are Christopher Plummer, Brian Dennehy and Anika Noni Rose.

Newcomer Nikki M. James, who has been building an impressive career in New York and California will play Juliet to Gareth Potter's Romeo in the production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by co-artistic director Des McAnuff. James played Dorothy in Des McAnuff's production of The Wiz at the La Jolla Playhouse.  Potter, returns for his fifth season at Stratford, after playing Edgar in King Lear, and Gratiano in The Merchant of Venice in 2007.

The Taming of the Shrew will feature Irene Poole and Evan Buliung in the leading roles. Buliung returns after his successes at the Shaw Festival and in The Lord of the Rings. Poole is celebrated throughout Canada for her classical and contemporary theatre work.

The Festival has completed most of its casting and is delighted to have the following actors from 2007 and previous seasons return to the Stratford stage in principal roles in 2008: Sean Arbuckle, James Blendick, Evan Buliung, Dan Chameroy, Juan Chioran, Diane D'Aquila, Peter Donaldson, Bruce Dow, David Ferry, Jonathan Goad, Adrienne Gould, Martha Henry, David W. Keeley, Trish Lindström, Lee MacDougall, Yanna McIntosh, Seana McKenna, Nora McLellan, Gordon S. Miller, Marcus Nance, Cory O'Brien, Stephen Ouimette, Lucy Peacock, Christopher Plummer, Gareth Potter, Fiona Reid, Maria Ricossa, Brad Rudy, Shaun Smyth, Jane Spidell, Steven Sutcliffe, Severn Thompson, Sara Topham, Brian Tree, Sophia Walker, Scott Wentworth, Nigel Shawn Williams, and Abigail Winter-Culliford.

Also returning are: Tessa Alves, Ashley Burton, Joyce Campion, Matt Cassidy, Diana Coatsworth, Naomi Costain, Stephen Cota, Rachel Crowther, Paul Dunn, Darcy Evans, Michelle Fisk, Barbara Fulton, Christina Gordon, Phillip Hughes, Robin Hutton, Krista Leis, Roy Lewis, Laird Mackintosh, Jonathan Monro, Paul Nolan, Eric Robertson, Stephanie Roth, Julius Sermonia, André Sills, Sam Strasfeld, Dayna Tekatch, Lindsay Thomas, Devon Tullock, Ryan Wilson, Shawn Wright and Robert Yeretch. 

The Festival is also pleased to welcome the following new players in principal roles: Simon Callow, Ben Carlson, David Collins, Brian Dennehy, Kelli Fox, Eddie Glen, Bruce Godfree, Nikki M. James, Jeff Lillico, W. Joseph Matheson, Frank Moore, Leah Oster, Irene Poole, Tom Rooney, Anika Noni Rose, Timothy D. Stickney, John Vickery and Daniela Vlaskalic.

Other newcomers include: Matt Alfano, Victor Ertmanis, Kelly-Ann Evans, Omar Forrest, Kyle Golemba, Kelly Grainger, Deidrea Halley, Randy Hughson, Alison Jantzie, Patrick McManus, Azeem Nathoo and Lynda Sing.  Casting continues for the 2008 season.

The Festival also announces the appointment of Rick Fox as musical director, following the resignation of Berthold Carrière, who has served as director of music for 34 amazing seasons.  Carrière will continue his association with the Festival, serving as music director and conductor of The Music Man in 2008 and intends to be involved for years to come as a composer and conductor. Currently the musical director on We Will Rock You, Fox is a gifted musician and composer and has served as musical director/conductor on the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings, the Canadian premières of The Producers, The Lion King, Rent, The Who's Tommy, and The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto; and Rent and Blood Brothers in New York. His composing credits include music for CBC radio dramas, numerous stage plays, and the TV series Nilus the Sandman starring legendary British Blues singer Long John Baldry. Mr. Fox will also serve as music director and conductor on Cabaret in 2008.

Cabaret will feature Stratford veteran Bruce Dow as the Emcee and Trish Lindström as Sally Bowles.  Jonathan Goad will play Harold Hill in the The Music Man and Leah Oster will play Marion Paroo.

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