New players, old favorites compose Shakespeare Festival cast

A playwright long dead dominated movie screens this year, attracting fans to fairies and royalty romping through the forests of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Shakespeare, Hollywood has learned, sells.

The bard also sells from a round wooden theater in the heart of Utah's natural wonders, Zion and Bryce national parks.

Each year 62,000 Las Vegans drive three hours northeast to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespearean Festival, according to founder Fred Adams.

"That's more than 40 percent of our ticket sales," Adams notes as 375 company members arrived earlier this month for the festival, which runs from June 24 through Sept. 4.

For those making the run to Cedar City, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will offer audiences a chance to see actors bring Shakespeare's poetry to life on the open-air stage of Adams Shakespearean Theatre.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is an enchanted folly, where an imp strikes sleeping lovers with a magic potion, causing them to adore the first person they see upon awakening.

Two actors playing dual roles in the Utah production will keep theatergoers guessing, Director Russell Treyz promises.

Ty Burrell will play the Duke of Theseus, returned from battle with the captured queen of the Amazons, as well as Oberon, the king of the fairies.

Burrell, a professional actor, is returning for his second season at the festival. He appeared in "Henry V," "Pericles" and "Hamlet" in 1997. He will also play Richard in this year's production of "The Lion in Winter."

Jeannie Naughton plays the captured queen of the Amazons and Hippolyta, as well as Titania, queen of the fairies. Last year she appeared in "All's Well that Ends Well," "King John" and "Relative Values."

Jay Russell as Bottom, the weaver, makes his first appearance at the Utah festival.

From enchanted forests to the stormy heath of ancient Britain, "King Lear," will take audiences into the heart of Shakespeare's tragedy, Director Roger Cohen said.

William Metzo plays the tragic king who goes mad. Last year he played the king of France in "All's Well that Ends Well" and King Phillip in "King John."

Naughton is featured as the clever Goneril, Lear's oldest daughter who plays to her father's weaknesses to strip him of his kingdom and his honor.

From 2,800 years ago, Shakespeare brought the Trojan war to the stage in "Troilus and Cressida."

Four strong actors will portray the towering Greeks, Director Paul Barnes said.

Tyler Layton appears as Cressida, George Judy as the Trojan priest Calchus, Michael Hardin as the Trojan war hero Hector and newcomer Cameron McNary will play Troilus.

For those who want to sample fare that Shakespeare didn't write, the festival offers a variety of plays produced in modern time.

"The Lion in Winter" is set nearly 800 years ago in a drafty castle where King Henry II spends a dark Christmas with his young mistress, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, three power-hungry sons and a meddlesome king of France, Director Kathleen Conlin said.

Leslie Brott plays the lioness and Queen Eleanor; Richard Elmore stars as the lion and Henry II; and Russ Benton plays Prince John.

Brott returns to the festival after a five-year absence to play a character she said she has longed to play her entire professional life.

Another favorite Utah performer, Brian Vaughn, returns to the festival this summer to play the dentist Valentine in "You Never Can Tell."

Vaughn, currently a company member of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and a member of the Actor's Equity Association, will also appear as Edgar in "King Lear."

Caroline Shaffer appears as Valentine's love interest, Gloria Clandon, and Jonathan Gillard Daly as Finch McComas, the solicitor. Both are appearing at the Utah festival for the first time.

The devil, a baseball star, a faithful housewife and a coach team up for the festival's offering of the musical "Damn Yankees," Director Roger Bean said.

Veteran festival actors A. Bryan Humphrey plays the devil, Applegate; Alex Lubliner appears as young Joe Hardy the baseball star; and Heidi Ewart as Meg, the faithful housewife, will all return this year.

Charles L. Metten appears as Coach Van Buren for his first festival performance. But locals will recognize him as dean of Southern Utah University's College of Performing and Visual Arts.

As an associate artist, Metten is receiving some special training for his part as a baseball coach. His son-in-law, Vance Law, a retired professional baseball player, is coaching him for the part.

Here are some behind-the-scenes facts about the 1999 Utah Shakespearean Festival:

* Of the 375 company members, only 66 are performers. The rest direct, sew costumes, light the stage, design props and make up the actors.

* Besides the company, the festival has 32 other departments and groups that are a part of the event, such as ticketing and public relations.

* In addition to all of the professionals, 300 volunteers from the community offer their time and efforts each year.

* Besides the summer company, a year-round resident staff of 24 people handle the finances, marketing, publications, educational programs, planning and administration for the festival.

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