Brian Bedford, Brent Carver, Brian Dennehy, Peter Donaldson, et al. Set for Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s 2011 Season

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has announced additional casting for its 2011 season, which will include Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Directed by Des McAnuff, the production features the previously reported Paul Nolan in the title role, Brent Carver as Pilate and Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdelene, along with Josh Young (Judas), Bruce Dow (Herod), Mike Nadajewski (Peter), Marcus Nance (Caiaphas), Lee Siegel (Simon) and Aaron Walpole (Annas).

Principal casting has also been completed for Moliere’s The Misanthrope, directed by Brian Bedford. The company will feature Juan Chioran (Philante), Martha Ferrall (Eliante), Steve Ross (Clitandre), Kelli Fox (Arsinoé), Ben Carlson (Alceste), and Sara Topham (Célimène), who will also be playing Olivia in McAnuff’s staging of Twelfth Night.

Mike Shara has also joined the company of this latter production and will play Orsino. He, along with Ian Lake, will also be seen in Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. Both Twelfth Night and The Homecoming will also feature the previously announced Brian Dennehy.

Other new casting for the theater’s coming season includes Tom McCamus, who will play Jim Casy in Antoni Cimolino’s staging of The Grapes of Wrath and Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Peter Donaldson, who will play Marcus Andronicus in Darko Tresjnak’s production of Titus Andronicus and Buckingham in Richard III, to be directed by Miles Potter.

Other new additions to the casts for these shows include Victor Ertmanis (Pa), Randy Hughson (Uncle John), and Chick Reid (Granma) in Grapes of Wrath; Laura Condlin (Mistress Page), Nigel Bennett (Dr. Caius) and Andrew Gililes (Sir Hugh Evans) in Merry Wives; and John Vickery (Titus Andronicus), Claire Lautier (Tamora), Amanda Lisman (Lavinia), Dion Johnston (Aaron) and Sean Arbuckle (Saturnius) in Titus, who along with Bennett and Gillies will also be appear in Richard III

Additional casting for Richard III include Bethany Jillard as Lady Anne and Yanna McIntosh as Queen Elizabeth, both of whom will be appearing in John Mighton’s new version of The Little Years. Finally, Oliver Becker will be joining Gareth Potter in Weyni Mengesha’s Hosanna.

For more information, visit www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com.