Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Announces Complete Casting for Summer 2019 Season

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has announced complete casting for the 2019 summer season.

The season begins with William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by May Adrales. The cast will feature Charlie Semine as Benedick and Tina Chilip as Beatrice, as well as performances from Kendall Cafaro, Kayla Coleman, Jon Cook, Brandon Dial, Michael Early, Jose Gamo, Stephen Paul Johnson, Sean McNall, Kurt Rhoads, Timiki Salinas, Stephen Michael Spencer, Alexandra Templer, and Ryan Washington. Much Ado About Nothing will feature costume design by Valérie Thérèse Bart, lighting design by Oona Curley, sound design by Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Nellie McKay is the composer and music director, and Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 9 with an official opening set for June 20, and will run through August 31.

William Shakespeare's Cymbeline, directed by HVSF artistic director Davis McCallum, will feature Kendall Cafaro, Tina Chilip, Kayla Coleman, Jon Cook, Brandon Dial, Michael Early, Jose Gamo, Stephen Paul Johnson, Sean McNall, Kurt Rhoads, Timiki Salinas, Charlie Semine, Stephen Michael Spencer, Alexandra Templer, and Ryan Washingtoncc. Cymbeline will feature choreography by Tracy Bersley, costume design by Charlotte Palmer Lane, lighting design by Oona Curley, sound design by Nathan A. Roberts and Charles Coes, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Raymond Bokhour is the composer and music director, Rod Kinter is the fight choreographer, and Roxana Khan will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 11 with an official opening set for June 22, and will run through July 27.

The HVSF and Two River Theater coproduction of Cyrano, written by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, adapted from the play by Edmond Rostand, and directed by Meredith McDonough, will feature O'Connell in the title role, Britney Simpson as Roxane, and performances from George Merrick, Luis Quintero, and Nance Williamson. Cyrano will feature scenic design by Kristen Robinson, costume design by Jessica Wegener Shay, lighting design by Paul Toben, sound design by Palmer Hefferan, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Janelle Caso will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on June 27 with an official opening set for June 29, and will run through August 30.

The season will conclude with HVSF's first-ever musical, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning Into the Woods, which will be directed by Jenn Thompson. The cast includes Kendall Cafaro as Rapunzel, Kayla Coleman as Little Red, Jon Cook, Laura Darrell as Cinderella and Granny, Brandon Dial as Jack, Rhett Guter as Prince and Wolf, George Merrick as Baker, Jason O'Connell as Narrator/Mysterious Man, Luis Quintero as Rapunzel's Prince, Leenya Rideout as the Witch, Timiki Salinas, Britney Simpson as Baker's Wife, Ryan Washington as Steward, and Nance Williamson as Jack's Mother and Stepmother. Into the Woods will feature choreography by Rhett Guter, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Matthew Richards, sound design by Ken Travis, and props design by Joshua Yocom. Amanda Morton serves as music director. Janelle Caso will serve as production stage manager. Performances begin on August 1 with an official opening set for August 3, and will run through September 8.