Jan. 27--American Players Theatre (APT), the outdoor classical theater of Wisconsin, has announced its 37th summer festival season. The lineup includes the work of prominent Chicago directors Derrick Sanders and William Brown, along with many Chicago actors, and will feature eight plays in repertory.
"The Comedy of Errors" starts off the season, opening June 4 and closing Oct. 2 at the amphitheater on the hill. David Frank will direct the Shakespearean comedy about twins separated at birth and the mistaken identity antics that ensue. The production will feature Kesley Brennan and Cristina Panfilio as the Dromios.
Next is "Death of a Salesman," to be directed by Kenneth Albers. Running June 10 to Sept. 16 on the hill, Arthur Miller's everyman drama will feature Brian Mani as Willy Loman.
"An Ideal Husband," Oscar Wilde's comedy about a politician's wife set on saving her husband's career follows June 17 -- Sept. 24 on the hill. Laura Gordon will direct, with David Daniel and Colleen Madden starring as the Chilterns.
James Bohnen will take on "Arcadia," Tom Stoppard's one-room romance rooted in two time periods. The production will feature Tracy Michelle Arnold, Nate Burger, Jim DeVita, Steve Haggard and Colleen Madden and will run July 29 -- Oct. 1 on the hill.
Then comes the William Brown-helmed "King Lear," featuring Jonathan Smoots in the titular role. Shakespeare's tragedy about a ruler's fall from grace, not seen on APT's stages for 17 years, will run on the hill from Aug. 5 to Sept. 30. Brown recently directed "Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight" at Windy City Playhouse.
Playing June 3 -- Sept. 14 in the 200-seat Touchstone Theater is Carlyle Brown's "The African Company Presents Richard III." Derrick Sanders, the original artistic director of Congo Square Theatre, will helm the pre-Civil War production about a black stage troupe's struggle to stage Shakespeare's classic. Johnny Lee Davenport, Jennifer Latimore, Gavin Lawrence, Cedric Mays and Greta Oglesby will star.
Also in the Touchstone is Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice," running June 21 to Oct. 8. The reimagination of the Greek myth as told from the perspective of Opheus' wife will feature Kesley Brennan, Nate Burger, Melisa Pereyra, Cedric Mays, James Ridge and Christopher Sheard.
Closing out the season in the Touchstone Theater is Samuel Beckett's "Endgame," to be directed by Aaron Posner, who made his Chicago Shakespeare Theater debut this year with Teller's "The Tempest." The cast of Beckett's absurd chess match includes Brian Mani, David Daniel, John Pribyl and Sarah Day.
"Mary's Wedding" by Stephen Massicotte, to be directed by Brenda DeVita, will run in the Touchstone Theatre from Oct. 28 to Nov. 20 after the regular season closes. The story about a war-torn couple will star Nate Burger and Laura Rook.
American Players Theatre is located at 5950 Golf Course Rd., Spring Green, WI.
