For Immediate Release: March 23, 2007
Media Contact: Lisa Higgins, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, 610.282.WILL x4

Shakespeare’s visions of love in the extreme – love that incites and enrages; love that tames and heals – command the stage in The Taming of the Shrew and The Winter’s Tale this summer at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. The season also includes Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award Winner, Amadeus, Charles Ludlam’s gothic comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep, A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh adapted by Kristin Sergel, and the free outdoor Green Show.

Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth are the 2007 Season Sponsors. Associate Season Sponsors are: the Harry C. Trexler Trust, The Morning Call and Service Electric Cable TV & Communications.

New this season is a free program, Prologues, designed to deepen a patron’s experience of the Shakespeare plays. Prior to every performance of The Winter’s Tale and The Taming of the Shrew, a member of the PSF artistic staff will provide insights into the play, with time allotted for questions. “Prologues give patrons an opportunity to enhance their experience and broaden their appreciation of Shakespeare’s genius,” says Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy. “Presented in the theatre 45 minutes prior to curtain, Prologues serve as great appetizers to the performances.” PSF will also continue offering its Meet the Actors program, informal discussions after all Thursday performances, excluding previews, which have been part of PSF’s programming since its inception in 1992.

Healing separation and strife with determination and forgiveness

The Winter’s Tale
By William Shakespeare
Opens: June 15 at 8pm
Director: Patrick Mulcahy
Closes: July 1 at 2pm
Runs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm; Saturday, June 30 at 2pm and 8pm; Sundays at 2pm; Family nights: Sunday, June 17 and 24 at 7:30pm.
Sets: Bob Phillips
Costumes: Rosemarie McKelvey
Lights: Steve TenEyck
Sound: Matthew Given
As director of The Winter’s Tale, Mulcahy envisions “a mythic romance, a rich and layered storybook, as if illustrated by Monet, that illuminates magical transformations of life and love.” A romance play written late in Shakespeare’s career, The Winter’s Tale “plunges deeply into the tragic before veering toward joy and redemption.”1 Performed in the intimate 187-seat Arena Stage, The Winter’s Tale features the set design of five-time Emmy Award winner Bob Phillips, costumes by Rosemarie McKelvey, lights by Steve TenEyck and sound by Matthew Given.

The production sponsor is Wills Hall Oblate Community and co-sponsor is Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

A thriller for the ages
Amadeus
By Peter Shaffer
Previews: June 20 & 21 at 8pm
Opens: June 22 at 8pm
Closes: July 8 at 2pm
Runs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm [no 2pm Saturday, June 23]; Sundays at 2pm; Family night: Sunday, June 24 at 7:30pm
Director: Dennis Razze
Sets: Will Neuert
Costumes: Lisa Zinni
Lights: Eric Haugen
Sound: Matthew Given
Associate Artistic Director Dennis Razze, who directed last season’s acclaimed production of My Fair Lady, stages Amadeus, a five-time Tony Award winner that weaves real events from Mozart’s life and death into an extraordinary tale of envy and mystery. Lisa Zinni, whose PSF costume designs include My Fair Lady, The Imaginary Invalid and Man of La Mancha, returns to design the lavish 18th-century dress of the Viennese court. Will Neuert designs sets; Eric Haugen, lights; and Matthew Given, sound.

Alvin H. Butz, Inc., serves as production sponsor and Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy Nolan serve as co-sponsors.

Madcap marathon of laughs on the moors of Mandacrest Manor
The Mystery of Irma Vep
By Charles Ludlam
Previews: July 11 & 12 at 8pm
Opens: July 13 at 8pm
Closes: August 5 at 2pm
Runs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays through Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm July 28 and August 4; Sundays at 2pm; Family nights: Sunday, July 15 and 22 at 7:30pm

Director: Jim Helsinger
Sets: Bob Phillips
Lights: Steve TenEyck
Sound: Matthew Given
Featuring a zany cast of classic caricatures played by two actors, The Mystery of Irma Vep was lauded as ‘the funniest two hours anywhere” by The New York Times when it opened in 1984 at the Ridiculous Theatrical Company. Jim Helsinger, artistic director of the Orlando/UCF Shakespeare Festival and a long-time PSF artist, directs; Bob Phillips serves as set designer; Lisa Zinni, costumes; Steve TenEyck, lights and Matthew Given, sound.

Dr. and Mrs. Frank J. Szarko are production sponsors; Keenan-Nagle Advertising, Inc., is co-sponsor.

By blows and by bellows; the taming of the human heart
The Taming of the Shrew
By William Shakespeare
Previews: July 18 & 19 at 8pm
Opens: July 20 at 8pm
Closes: August 5 at 2pm
Runs Tuesdays at 7pm; Wednesdays at 2pm & 8pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm [no 2pm July 21]; Sundays at 2pm; Family night: Sunday, July 22 at 7:30pm
Director: Russell Treyz
Sets: Dana Kenn
Costumes: Marla Jurglanis
Lights: Eric Haugen
Sound: Matthew Given
Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew – a lusty brawling comedy of courtship and love – has captivated audiences for centuries. “Shakespeare, always the master, tackles the subject of the male-female relationship and ends up with a touchdown of humor and delight that serves to help us all reflect upon our own lives and wives (or husbands),” says Russell Treyz, returning to direct his ninth production at PSF this summer. Dana Kenn is set designer; Marla Jurglanis, costume designer; Eric Haugen, lighting designer and Matthew Given, sound designer.

The show sponsor is Breslin Ridyard Fadero Architects; co-sponsor is the Rider-Pool Foundation.

A.A. Milne's Gift to Families
Winnie the Pooh
Adapted by Kristin Sergel
Opens: June 2 at 10am
Closes: August 5
Runs: Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10am, except June 9 & 12 and July 3, 4 and 10; Additional 2pm matinees June 23, July 21, 24, 26 and August 2
Director: Erin Mullen
Sets: Bob Phillips
Costumes: Amy Lobmeyer
Lights: Solomon Wisebard
Sound: Matthew Given
The world's most charming Pooh bear goes adventuring with his friends -- Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl and Kanga -- on an endless quest for honey. The audience is invited to meet the cast in the lobby after show for photos and autographs, too.

About PSF
The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, a professional theatre company in residence at DeSales University, is recognized as one of the top 20 Shakespeare festivals nationwide by Jim Volz, editor of quarto, the newsletter of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (STAA). The official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PSF attracts audiences of 25,000 – 30,000 from 22 states each year.

A variety of flexible season ticket packages are available, including Four-Show, Pick 3 and Flex Packs, with prices starting at $75. Single tickets will be released for sale April 2nd. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups. Family nights are held on select Sunday evenings at 7:30pm, and offer up to two tickets at $5 each for every two purchased at the adult price.

For ticket information, contact PSF at 610-282-WILL [9455], ext. 1, or online at www.pashakespeare.org.

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