Door Shakespeare Announces Tenth Season

Door Shakespeare is pleased to announce its fast-approaching tenth-anniversary season, which will open in Baileys Harbor on July 10. This year, Door Shakespeare will continue the fine tradition of presenting professional classical theater under the stars in the beautiful Garden at Bjorklunden. The 2008 season will feature Shakespeare’s immortal crowd-pleaser A Midsummer Night’s Dream, last staged by the company in 2002, as well as Cyrano de Bergerac, the classic saga of duels, deception, and romance by French playwright Edmond Rostand.

This season’s company will feature a number of actors in their first season with Door Shakespeare, including Nicholas Harazin (Milwaukee), Courtney Jones (Milwaukee), Luke Leonhardt (Milwaukee), Robert Allan Smith (Chicago), and Saren Nofs-Snyder (Chicago). Also joining the company for the first time are interns Josh Fazeli and Zach Fineblum from the University of Minnesota, as well as business intern Allison McGuire of Lawrence University and costume intern Leah Dueno of Cardinal Stritch University. Door Shakespeare will also welcome new business manager Jean Hanson to the company.

These new faces will join several Door Shakespeare veterans from across the country. Returning talent from Minneapolis includes Jerry Gomis and Suzanne Graff, who will, as always, lend their talents to acting and directing as well as executive producing. From Chicago will come Nathan Hosner, back for his third year with the company (past roles include Tartuffe, Tartuffe), as well as Patrick Halley, who made his Door Shakespeare debut in 2007 (Trinculo, The Tempest). Amy Ensign of Sturgeon Bay will return for a second season (having previously played Elmire, Tartuffe), Eric Ohlrogge will return for a second year from Lawrence University, and Jennefer Ludwigsen, currently living in Seattle, will return for her seventh season with the company (past roles include Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest). Back from Boston comes Katie Dahl, returning for her fifth season of musicianship and publicity writing. Stewart Dawson and Barb Portinga will revive their roles as scenic and costume designers, respectively. And as always, original music will be composed and directed by Austin (by way of Door County) singer-songwriter Karen Mal.

Plans for the season include collaborating with the well-loved Doorways program to offer acting classes for both children and adults, as well as Shakes Shops, behind-the-scenes peeks into the inner workings of Door Shakespeare.

Door Shakespeare’s season will run from July 10 until August 24, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream playing on Mondays, Thursday, and Saturdays, and Cyrano de Bergerac on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. All shows are at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $23 for adults, $16 for students, and $6 for children, and can be purchased at the door or reserved in advance by phone. Call 920.839.1500 or visit http://www.doorshakespeare.com for more details. Door Shakespeare is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board, with funds from the state of Wisconsin.