We are getting ready to start another season at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival here in Montgomery. Economic downturn or no economic downturn! The season starts with a children's musical, "Ferdinand The Bull." For Christmas it's "A Christmas Story." In the Rep season are: the greatest tragedy ever written, "Hamlet," a crazy comedy, "Lettice and Lovage," and the curious tale of love above one's station, "All's Well That Ends Well." New plays being produced are 'The Return" about Harriet Tubman, "Fall of the House," a modern story infused with the winds of Poe and "Nobody" about two black men who had to wear blackface to get a start in show biz and went on to become Broadway impressarios! Then there's a down home musical, "Cowgirls.
The newly formed Intern Company of actor newcomers are the singing and dancing stars of "Ferdinand." As they open on November 7th, the company of actors for "The Christmas Story" arrives in Montgomery to join a waiting cast of local child actors and begin rehearsals with Artistic Director Geoffrey Sherman.
In the Rep season, Nathan Hosner who played Porthos in last season's "The Three Musketeers" at ASF and just played the title role in "Mc Beth" in Chicago returns to Montgomery to play Hamlet. His Horatio will be Matt D'Amico, last season's brilliant Iago, returning for his third season to ASF. ASF vetern actress Greta Lambert will play Gertrude.
Auditions in New York next week will complete the casting.
The comedy "Lettice and Lovage," originally written for and staring Maggie Smith, will be directed by renowned director John Going.