Saint Lawrence Shakepeare returns this summer with the Three Musketeers

St. Lawrence Shakespeare announces MainStage cast, it’s brand new
“SideStage” plan, and the title of it’s popular Community Play!
!
April 18, 2017 – The St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival announced details of it’s
programming and the casting for the summer season! !
Following last year’s swords and sandals hit Julius Caesar, this summer will transporting
the audience to ancient Egypt for the romantic sequel, Antony & Cleopatra in addition
to producing an original musical adaptation of the rollicking and swashbuckling story
The Three Musketeers. !
The MainStage cast features a host of talent! Returning for their 3rd consecutive years,
are veteran actor Richard SheridanWillis, who blew audiences away last year in the
title role of Julius Caesar, as well as the award-winning fight director, actor and
choreographer, Jonathan Purvis. !
Jonathan will be reprising his role as the iconic Mark Antony in Antony & Cleopatra and
will also be swinging a sword as Aramis in The Three Musketeers. Richard is playing
the villainous Count Rochefort in The Three Musketeers as well as Antony’s trusted
general, Enobarbus. !
Other returning cast members include Ash Knight, Jesse Nerenbeg, and Déjah
Dixon-Green. !
New to the Festival is the sensational Rachel Jones, who will be burning up the stage
as Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra. Audiences might have seen one of her many
performances at the Classic Theatre Festival and she most recently played Gertrude in
the Canadian Stage production of Hamlet. !
Also new to the Festival is Jenn Dzialoszynski, a veteran of the Shaw Festival as well
as an accomplished stage-fighter. Jenn will be playing d’Artangnan in The Three
Musketeers. !
Other artists new to this year’s season are Jeff Dingle, Lucy Hill, and Ottawa native
Zach Counsil. The Festival is also pleased to welcome Claire Boudreau and Liam
Lynch as this year’s RBC Emerging Artists! !
This season will once again feature 20 local extras, 10 in Antony & Cleopatra and 10
in The Three Musketeers. !
For the first time, the Festival is programming a third summer production!
Inaugurating the “Sidestage” is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
(abridged), an hilarious 90-minute mash-up of all 38 of The Bard’s plays! This show
stars Shaw & Stratford alumni Susie Burnett, the Jeopardy game-show champion
Helen Junoven, and the Festival’s former artistic director Ian Farthing.
!
“I’ve always wanted to invite Ian to perform at the Festival and this seemed like the
perfect season and the perfect show”, said current artistic director Rona Waddington.
“He’s a wonderful performer and I am — and think audiences will be — excited to see
him again! He also happens to be ideal casting for this play.” !
The St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival is also thrilled to announce that this year’s
community play will be the heartwarming musical Annie. This year local amateur
thespians will be presenting the story for three performances in August and casting has
already begun, so if you are interested in participating, please contact Rona at the
Festival as soon as possible. !!
Mainstage Details
Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
directed by Rona Waddington
Opens July 8, and runs in repertory until August 12 !
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
adapted by David Ring and Rona Waddington
musical score by Melissa Morris
directed by Rona Waddington
Opens July 12, runs in repertory until August 12 !
Sidestage Details
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer
& Jess Winfield
directed by Caroline Smith
Opens August 15 and performs daily until August 20 !
Community Show Details
Annie! The Musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, & book by
Thomas Meehan
directed by Rona Waddington
Friday, August 25 at 7pm
Saturday August 26 at 1pm
Saturday, August 26 at 7pm !
Box Office: 613 925 5788
Online sales at www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca !