THEATRE NEWS: Stratford casting announced for 2011
8 Oct'10

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

Last June, Des MacAnuff, artistic director of the Stratford Festival, revealed the skeleton of his 2011 season, announcing the playbill and some of his principal casting. Now he's put a bit more flesh on it. MacAnuff announced further key Festival casting Thursday and, not surprisingly, there are more than a few familiar names.

Josh Young, for instance, who made an impressive Fest debut this summer in EVITA, returns next season, cast as Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, opposite previously announced castmates Brent Carver, Chilina Kennedy and Paul Nolan. Fest regulars Bruce Dow and Mike Nadajewski will also appear in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice classic.

Meanwhile, Tom McCamus, Victor Ertmanis, Randy Hughson and Chick Reid have all been signed to appear opposite Nolan, Kennedy and Evan Buliung in the Festival's production of THE GRAPES OF WRATH. McCamus has also been cast, as have Laura Condlin, Nigel Bennett and Andrew Gillies, in THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, while Juan Chioran, Sara Topham, Martha Farrell, Steve Ross and Kelli Fox have all been cast in THE MISANTHROPE, opposite Ben Carlson and director Brian Bedford. Topham will also join the cast of TWELFTH NIGHT as will Mike Shara, who has been cast as well in THE HOMECOMING, opposite Ian Lake.

Long time company member Peter Donaldson returns to the Festival stage, cast opposite John Vickery, Claire Lautier, Amanda Lisman, Dion Johnstone and Sean Arbuckle in TITUS ANDRONICUS, and opposite Seana McKenna, Martha Henry, Bethany Jillard, Arbuckle, Bennett and Gillies in RICHARD III. Yanna McIntosh returns next season in THE LITTLE YEARS, opposite Reid, Jillard and Irene Poole, while Oliver Becker has been cast opposite Gareth Potter in HOSANNA.