Bates, French, Paley, Stickney, et al. Set for TWAS’ Hamlet

Timothy D. Stickney, Petronia Paley, Arthur French, and Jerome Preston Bates will join members of the Take Wing and Soar (TWAS) company for William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, April 13-29, at the Workshop Theatre.

The production will be directed by Elizabeth Swain. The creative team includes Rob Dutiel (sets), Ali Turns (costumes), Jane Shaw (lighting), David D. Wright (sound), and Ron Piretti (fight choreography).

The cast will also include Geoffrey Warren Barnes II, Larry Floyd, David Heron, Mary Hodges, Zainab Jah, Michael Leonard James, Tom Mortin, Kwame Riley, Miguel Sierra, Bryan Webster, and Dathan B. Williams.

Stickney, who will play the title role, is currently starring as Oswald in the Public Theater’s production of King Lear, and previously played the title roles in TWAS’ productions of Othello and Richard III. He is best known for his long-running role as RJ Gannon on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live.

Paley, who will play Gertrude, has numerous stage credits including On Golden Pond, The Cherry Orchard, The Trojan Women, and The Revenger’s Tragedy. Her many film and television credits include long-running roles on the daytime dramas Another World and Guiding Light.

French, who will play Polonius and the Gravedigger, appeared on Broadway in such plays as Mule Bone, Death and the Kings Horsemen, and The Iceman Cometh; he is the recipient of the Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance. Bates, who will play Claudius, has starred in many of August Wilson’s plays including Seven Guitars, Jitney, and Two Trains Running.