Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival Completes Summer Casting

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has announced complete casting for the 2018 summer season, which will include the Shakespeare classics Richard II and The Taming of the Shrew, alongside David Farr’s adaptation of The Heart of Robin Hood and the world premiere of Seth Bockley’s Rip Van Winkle; or, Cut the Old Moon Into Stars. The season will also feature the HVSF Conservatory Company in an original clown piece, The Sea-Maid's Music, devised and directed by Zachary Fine.

Directed by HVSF artistic director Davis McCallum, Richard II will star Julia Coffey in the title role and Mark Bedard as Henry Bolingbroke, along with Wesley Mann, Kurt Rhoads, Triney Sandoval, Chris Thorn, and Nance Williamson. The cast will also feature appearances from Benjamin Bonenfant, Ralph Adriel Johnson, Biko Eisen Martin, Britney Simpson, and Liz Wisan. Richard will feature costume design by Charlotte Palmer-Lane, lighting design by Eric Southern, sound design by Stowe Nelson, and sets by Sandra Goldmark. Previews begin on June 9 in advance of a June 22 opening and performances will run through August 26.

Shana Cooper will helm The Taming of the Shrew, running June 8-August 25 with an official June 24 opening. The cast will feature Liz Wisan as Kate, and Biko Eisen Martin as Petruchio, along with performances by Mark Bedard, Ralph Adriel Johnson, Kurt Rhoads, Triney Sandoval, Britney Simpson, and Nance Williamson. The show will have choreography by Erika Chong Shuch, costume design by Ásta Hostetter, lighting design by Ji Young Chan, and set design by Sandra Goldmark.

The Heart of Robin Hood, directed by Suzanne Agins (replacing previously announced director Tyne Rafaeli), will begin previews on June 8 and open on June 16, with performances scheduled through August 25. The cast will include Benjamin Bonenfant, Julia Coffey, Liam Craig, Robyn Kerr, Sean McNall, Chris Thorn, and Wesley Mann. Local Hudson Valley child actors Samuel Bates and Adam Cabo will alternate in the role of Jethro, and Phoebe Bokhour and Talia Hird will alternate in the role of Sarah. The production will feature fight choreography by Ryan Borque, costume design by Cait O’Connor, lighting design by Ji Young Chan, sound design by Stowe Nelson, and set design by Sandra Goldmark.

Rip Van Winkle; or, Cut the Old Moon Into Stars, HVSF’s first original mainstage commission, was written and will be directed by Seth Bockley and is freely adapted from the story by Washington Irving. The production will feature Liam Craig, Robyn Kerr, Maribel Martinez, and Sean McNall, alongside a cast of 40 community performers. The show marks the formal launch of HVSF’s Full Circle programming initiative, established to build and sustain community through free workshops, gatherings, and performance opportunities for Hudson Valley locals. The creative team includes costume design by Charlotte Palmer-Lane, lighting design by Eric Southern, and set design from Sandra Goldmark. Four free performances of Rip Van Winkle will take place over Labor Day Weekend.

The Sea-Maid's Music, devised and directed by Zachary Fine, closes out the season with three performances staged at the HVSF Theater Tent, including one evening show on August 13 and two free family matinees on August 14 and August 21. The production will also tour to regional venues as part of the HVSF On the Road program. The cast will feature members of the HVSF Conservatory Company, including Tora Alexander, Justin Choi, Jose Gamo, Colleen Litchfield, Trace Pope, Susana Montoya Quinchia, and Nome Sidone (Ehinomen Okojie). The production will feature costume design by Jessica Wegener Shay.

Casting for the festival is by Stephanie Klapper Casting.

For more information, click here.