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Cast Set for Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival's 35th Season Featuring Two of its Most-Requested PlaysJun 1, 2007
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Catherine Atack/LTSF 775-832-1616 Betsy McDonald/RKPR, Inc. 775-378-0033 INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (TBD) - This year is an important season for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. The popular summertime tradition is now entering its 35th annual season, bringing in the two most frequently requested plays by audience members and turning over the stage to its first-ever non-Shakespearean play. Needless to say, casting the right actors is a critical component. For the 11th year, the Festival is again partnering with the Foothill Theatre Company to fulfill the starring and supporting roles in Romeo & Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and Greater Tuna. Presented at the Festival's custom built amphitheatre at Sand Harbor State Park on the shores of Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival performances offer a one-of-a-kind experience at the only venue of its kind on the largest alpine lake in North America. "The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival always strives to make each performance a fun and memorable experience for the attendees," said Catherine Atack, executive director for the festival. "The leading and supporting cast members, both new and old, are deep into their rehearsals, incorporating their persona and individual style into roles that are well known by many adults and even our younger patrons." THE DIRECTORS
THE ACTORS
Akhavan graces the Sand Harbor stage for his fourth season in 2007. Previous performances at the Festival include Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, Othello and Twelfth Night. In addition to his work with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Akhavan has toured nationally and internationally with the Missoula Children's Theatre and recently received his Masters of Fine Arts from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington.
Barton makes another appearance at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival having previously acted in Twelfth Night, Othello, The Merry Wives of Windsor, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Comedy of Errors and Two Gentlemen of Verona. Barton has worked for several theatre companies such as the Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora, Calif. and the Ensemble Theatre Company located in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Bryan returns to the lake for his fourth season having appeared in The Comedy of Errors, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo & Juliet, Othello and Twelfth Night in previous years. Bryan is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has also performed with the American Studio Theatre in Sacramento, Calif., San Jose Repertory Theatre in San Jose, Calif., the International City Theatre in Long Beach, Calif., the Public Theatre of Maine in Lewiston, Maine and the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival based in San Francisco.
A Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival veteran, Casl is a resident company member with the Foothill Theatre Company. She has appeared in many productions at Sand Harbor State Park including Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Love's Labour's Lost, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Othello and Twelfth Night. Additionally, Casl has worked with the Sacramento Theatre Company and the B Street Theatre, both based in Sacramento, Calif.
Coopwood is back for his second season with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival having earned audience accolades in 2006 as Iago in the Festival's first-ever presentation of Othello. He also appeared in Twelfth Night. Coopwood's credits include work with the Utah Shakespeare Festival based in Cedar City, Utah, Orlando Shakespeare Festival based in Orlando, Fla., the Seattle Shakespeare Company in Seattle, Wash., the Marin Shakespeare Company and the Marin Theatre Company, both based in Marin, Calif. He has also tackled roles in Burn This, Hamlet, Cyrano and Macbeth, among others in the Shakespearean cannon.
In preparation for Dayan's first season with the Festival, his acting skills were perfected in plays such as War Music, As You Like It, Macbeth, A Bright Room Called Day and Mary Barnes. He has worked with several theatre companies such as the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif. and the Santa Clarita Reparatory based in Newhall, Calif. Dayan received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from the California Institute of Arts in Valencia, Calif.
This season marks Heil's premiere with the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. His past performance experience includes roles in Doctor Zhivago, Dracula, Into the Woods and television appearances on "All My Children" and "Wicked, Wicked Games." Heil has also taken the director's chair for productions such as Twelfth Night, Brilliant Traces and The Visit. Heil earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of California, Irvine and is currently the program director of the Actors Alliance of San Diego.
Although Klingaman is new to the Festival, she captured the lead role of Juliet in this season's long-awaited performance of Romeo & Juliet. Her prior work includes Gretel and Hansel, The Emperor's New Clothes and Private Lives. Klingaman is also a recent graduate of the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington and holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting.
Permann was recently awarded with an Audience Choice Award for "Best Female Performance" for her portrayal as the nurse in Romeo & Juliet by Harlequin Productions. She joins the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival team this season playing that same award-winning role. Other credits include You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Grease, Under Milkwood and Strawberry Fields. This summer Permann will also make her big screen debut with the release of three films: The Mix Up, Perfect Sport and I Scream.
With previous training at the Julliard School in New York City, Petty brings a fresh approach to his leading role as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet. His talent has been showcased in plays such as Romeo & Juliet, Voir Dire, The Cherry Orchard, Hot Fudge and Macbeth. He is a recent graduate of the University of Washington's Professional Actor Training Program.
Stevenson has accumulated several West Coast acting roles in his repertoire including parts in And To All a Good Night, Around the World in 80 Days, Treasure Island, The Canterville Ghost, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Apartment 3A, The Taming of the Shrew, The Seven Ages of Man and Much Ado About Nothing. He also made an appearance at last year's Festival as Lodovico in Othello and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night. Stevenson holds a Master of Fine Arts from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, Calif.
A new addition to the Festival line up, Stowe has been acting with the Sonoma County Repertory in Sebastopol, Calif. for nine years, appearing in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Nigh and Much Ado About Nothing. He has also appeared in many Napa Valley, Calif. college productions and has even performed a sign language adaptation of Twelfth Night for the University of San Francisco.
Williams brings an abundance of Shakespearian experience to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival having worked with the Sacramento Theatre Company, based in Sacramento, Calif. During his time with the company, Williams appeared in Othello and The Peculiar and Sudden Nearness of the Moon. He also filled roles including Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet and Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival opens at 5:30 p.m. for all seating sections with a nightly curtain call at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22 for open seating tiers and range in options up to the premier Reserved Seating section from $67. For tickets and information about the 2007 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor, including membership, volunteer and employment opportunities, call 800-74-SHOWS (800-747-4697) or visit http://www.laketahoeshakespeare.com/. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to Lake Tahoe and Reno. The annual Festival advocates the finest cultural events in the area while educating future generations on the importance of the arts, theater and music. Presenting sponsors for the 2007 Festival include Harrah's/Harvey's at Lake Tahoe, offering first class accommodations and gaming choices at Lake Tahoe's South Shore, the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) representing Reno-Tahoe, America's Adventure Place and Microsoft Licensing, GP. ### |
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© 2009 Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival | (800) 74-SHOWS
The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is a 501 C (3) non-profit organization established for the cultural benefit and enjoyment of all residents and visitors to our region. We strive to plan, produce and advocate the finest cultural events at Lake Tahoe while educating future generations on the importance of including theatre, music and art in their everyday lives.
