RICHMOND SHAKESPEARE REPLACES SEASON FINALE

RICHMOND, VA, January 16, 2009 — Richmond Shakespeare announced on Friday that it will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream as its season finale in place of the earlier planned production of Cymbeline.

“We decided to go with one of the Bard’s best-beloved comedies for our final production at Second Presbyterian Church, says Grant Mudge, artistic director for Richmond Shakespeare. “The Dream appeals to a larger audience because it speaks so readily to the heart. We all know what it means to get a little lost in the woods of love.”

Mudge continues, “We’ve never done a full run of Midsummer indoors, and the company was ‘blown away’ by the demand for last month’s staged reading,” dubbed Midsummer in December.
Andrew Hamm, associate artistic director says, “The beauty of Cymbeline is, unfortunately, overshadowed by the economic realities facing all of us, actors and audiences alike. It’s just not the time to explore the more obscure of Shakespeare’s plays.”

Traditionally Richmond Shakespeare performs A Midsummer Night’s Dream outdoors at Agecroft Hall during its summer Richmond Shakespeare Festival, about every four years. The company last performed the play in 2004 and 2005, respectively in Richmond and touring it as far west as Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The 2005 production featured Scott Wichmann and was broadcast on WCVE-TV PBS later that year.

Ticketholders for Cymbeline may use their tickets for A Midsummer Night’s Dream; exchange their tickets for Amadeus; or receive a full refund by contacting the company’s offices.

Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, a Tony award winner for Best Play, opens February 12. The production is part of Richmond’s annual Acts of Faith festival, America’s largest faith-inspired theatre event. James Bond will direct.

Richmond Shakespeare’s downtown performances are located in the very Elizabethan-looking Chapel of Second Presbyterian Church, 5 North 5th Street. Regular season performances are held Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets, $26 for adults, $15 for students and
$13 for children under 12, are on sale here or 1-866-227-3849 (1-866-BARD-TIX).

Dedicated to making the works of William Shakespeare and other playwrights accessible to all audiences, Richmond Shakespeare is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond Shakespeare offers training, educational outreach and performance tours throughout the country. Richmond Shakespeare’s downtown season will move to CenterStage in October 2009. For more information, call (804) 232-4000.