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Citi Performing Arts Center Announces Cast for Annual Free Shakespeare on the Common

BOSTON, MA: “All the world’s a stage…” and a very talented group of actors will play their parts in this summer’s Citi Performing Arts Center Free Shakespeare production of “As You Like It,” playing for three weeks on Boston Common! The cast features Obie award-winning stars of stage and screen Marin Ireland as Rosalind and Fred Weller as Orlando, as well as Ali Marsh as Celia, Larry Coen as Touchstone, Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Jacques, Dan Roach as Oliver, Johnny Lee Davenport as Duke Senior, Jennie Israel as Phebe, Paul Melendy as Silvius, and Noah Tuleja as Duke Frederick. William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy will be performed on the Common Friday, July 18 - Sunday, August 3.

Following the Boston run, the production will travel to Springfield, MA, playing at Forest Park Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10. Presented by the Citi Performing Arts Center and directed by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) founding artistic director Steven Maler, the program’s corporate presenting sponsor is Citi. Free Shakespeare is a public program of the Citi Performing Arts Center.

Performances of “As You Like It” on Boston Common are Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at the Parkman Bandstand. Performances in Springfield are Friday - Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Forest Park. All performances are free and open to the public of all ages. “As You Like It” continues the popular midsummer tradition that has brought Shakespeare under the stars to more than 885,000 people over the last decade.

“As You Like It,” known as one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, is a captivating exploration of status, power and the bewitching mystery of love. This riotous romp through the Forest of Arden follows the adventures of Rosalind, a good-hearted optimist, and her pursuit for true love. From sorrow to laughter, banishment to marriage, the play involves conversations about life and love, and a clash of views, with a hilarious mixture of romantic and slapstick comedy. A play of passion, romance, and disguise, the game of love is tried until identities are revealed and all is resolved.

Marin Ireland (Rosalind) won an Obie award for her role in "Cyclone" and has appeared Off-Broadway in many other productions, including "The Ruby Sunrise," “Manuscript,” and “Sabina.” Regionally, she starred in the world premiere of the Huntington Theatre Company’s “Mauritius” and has been seen on film in “I Am Legend,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Dancing with Shiva” directed by Jonathan Demme and “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” directed by John Krasinski. Fred Weller (Orlando) received a Drama Desk Award nomination for “Best Featured Actor” for his role in Richard Greenberg’s “Take Me Out” and won an Obie Award for his role in “Curtains.” He was in both the London and New York runs of Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” as well as the 2003 film. Broadway credits include “The Little Foxes” with Stockard Channing, and “Six Degrees of Separation.” He co-stars with Mary McCormack in the USA Networks “In Plain Sight,” premiering in June. Ali Marsh (Celia) counts among her stage credits productions with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and various regional appearances. TV credits include "As the World Turns," “Law and Order,” and “Seinfeld.” Larry Coen (Touchstone) starred in last summer’s Free Shakespeare, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and received the 2007 Elliot Norton Award for "Outstanding Actor, Small/Midsize Theater" for his performances in 5 productions, including “The Taming of the Shrew,” the 2006 Free Shakespeare production. Fred Sullivan, Jr. (Jacques), also seen in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last summer, is a longtime member of Trinity Rep Co’s resident acting company. Dan Roach (Oliver) has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions and on stages in Los Angeles. Johnny Lee Davenport (Duke Senior) counts 28 of the Bard's plays among his credits, recently having been seen in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Boston Common last summer and in ASP's “Love's Labour’s Lost” and “Hamlet.” Film and TV credits include “The Blues Brothers,” “The Fugitive,” and “Law & Order.” Jennie Israel (Phebe) was Lady Macbeth in CSC’s 2003 production of “Macbeth” and has performed regionally with New Rep, Actors Shakespeare Project, and Shakespeare & Co. Paul Melendy (Silvius) has performed in the Free Shakespeare productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” Noah Tuleja (Duke Frederick) has worked as a professional actor, director, and fight choreographer in both the U.S. and England, including work regionally with Trinity Rep.

The cast also includes Jim Wrynn (Corin); Jeff Gill (Adam/Martext); Scott Raker (Jacques de Boys); Tom Gleadow (Amiens); Kelby Akin (Charles/William); Haas Regen (Le Beau); Lindsey McWhorter (Hymen); Becky Webber (Audrey); Jerell Lee Wesley (Dennis); Samson Kohanski (Guitar); Greg Ferrisi (Musician/Ensemble); Marie Polizzano (Ensemble); and Faith Imafidon (Ensemble).

Steven Maler most recently directed the Citi Performing Arts Center Free Shakespeare production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Boston Common, and the American Premiere of Peter Eötvös’ operatic adaptation of “Angels in America” for Opera Boston and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. As the founding artistic director of CSC, he has directed all of their productions. His CSC production of “Much Ado About Nothing” won the IRNE Award for Best Director, his “Twelfth Night” won the Elliot Norton award for “Best Production,” his first CSC production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” won the Norton Award for "Outstanding Director,” his production of “Suburbia” for the SpeakEasy Stage Company won the Norton Award for "Best Production," and his production of John Kuntz’s “Starf***ers” won the Norton Award for “Best Solo Performance.”

“As You Like It” features scenic design by Scott Bradley, costume design by Emily Pepper, lighting design by Linda O’Brien, sound design and original music by J Hagenbuckle and Peter McMurray, dance choreography by Martha Mason, and fight choreography by Ted Hewlett and Rob Najarian.

Since 1996, and in conjunction with the Citi Performing Arts Center since 2003, CSC has performed free professional productions of Shakespeare for Boston audiences during the summer months. Previous productions have included “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2007), “The Taming of the Shrew” (2006), “Hamlet” (2005), “Much Ado About Nothing” (2004), “Macbeth” (2003), “Henry V” (2002), “Twelfth Night” (2001), “The Tempest” (2002), “Julius Caesar” (1999), “As You Like It” (1998), “Romeo and Juliet” (1997) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1996).

The 3rd annual Celebrate Shakespeare Day, a program of Citi Performing Arts Center’s Education Department, will be held on Saturday, August 2, also at the Parkman Bandstand. Celebrate Shakespeare Day is a multi-faceted free event featuring workshops, performances, backstage tours, and lectures for the public to enjoy and learn more about the works of William Shakespeare.

For more information about “As You Like It,” call 617-482-9393, TTY: 617-482-5757, or visit www.citicenter.org.