OSF Opens 2007 Season on February 23

Libby Appel's Final Season A Parting Gift by Great Masters and New Voices

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open its 2007 season with four productions on two stages February 23-25, 2007.

Kicking off the weekend is William Shakespeare's comedy, As You Like It, directed by guest artist J.R. Sullivan. The show opens at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 23, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. Opening Saturday, February 24 at 1:30 p.m. is Libby Appel's new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, which she is also directing. At 8:00 p.m. that evening, audiences will be treated to Tom Stoppard's witty farce On the Razzle, directed by Laird Williamson. Completing the weekend's openings is David Lindsay-Abaire's compassionate, humorous new drama, Rabbit Hole, opening at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, February 25 in the New Theatre, directed by James Edmondson. The 2007 season, its 72nd year, is sponsored by US Bank.

OSF will open seven more plays on its three stages, the outdoor Elizabethan Stage, the Angus Bowmer Theatre and the intimate New Theatre, including three Shakespeare productions on the Elizabethan Stage opening the weekend of June 15-17: the deeply magical The Tempest, directed by Appel; The Taming of the Shrew, featuring one of Shakespeare's memorable couples, Kate and Petruchio, directed by Kate Buckley, a founding member of the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and in her first season at OSF; and Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's first great tragedy, directed by incoming artistic director Bill Rauch. OSF's 2007 season runs from February 16-October 28 and offers 774 performances of 11 productions.

Also in the Angus Bowmer Theatre are August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, directed by Timothy Bond (opening April 21) ; and Moliére's Tartuffe (translated by Ranjit Bolt), directed by Peter Amster (July 28). Opening in the the New Theatre on March 31 is a world premiere musical, Tracy's Tiger, based on the novella by William Saroyan with book and lyrics by Linda Alper, Douglas Langworthy and Penny Metropulos and music and additional lyrics by Sterling Tinsley; and Lisa Loomer's Distracted will open July 7 under the direction of Liz Diamond (Gibraltar, 2005).

"These plays are my parting gift," says Artistic Director Libby Appel. "They represent the acknowledged masters of the world's drama--Shakespeare and Chekhov, Moliére, August Wilson and Tom Stoppard--as well as two exciting new voices in American theatre, David Lindsay-Abaire and Lisa Loomer. And, as a special treat, we are offering a premiere musical written by members of the OSF company to showcase the talents and strengths of the OSF ensemble: the whimsical and quirky fable Tracy's Tiger, based on a novella by William Saroyan.

As You Like It (February 23-October 28) by William ShakespeareProduction Sponsor: US Bank

As You Like It offers audiences one of Shakespeare's most engaging heroines, Rosalind, who, disguised as a young man (Ganymede) and seeking safety in the Forest of Arden, discovers the joy of love, enduring friendship and restored relationships. Directed by J.R. Sullivan, who directed Room Service in 2005, the play is set in 1930's America.

The cast of 22 includes Miriam A. Laube as Rosalind, Danforth Comins as Orlando, Julie Oda as Celia, David Kelly as Touchstone, Jeff Cummings as Oliver, and Robert Sicular as Jaques.

Scenic design is by Resident Scenic Designer William Bloodgood; costumes by guest designer Joyce Kim Lee (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Room Service, The Comedy of Errors), lighting by Resident Lighting Designer Robert Peterson and music by guest artist John Tanner (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labor's Lost, The Visit). Lue Morgan Douthit is dramaturg; Louis Colaianni is Voice & Text Director and Suzanne Seiber is choreographer.

The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov; world premiere adaptation by Libby Appel from a literal translation by Alison Horsley (February 24-July 8)Production Sponsors: Lithia America's Car & Truck Store, Mrs. John D. BanksProduction Partner: Carole Howard in memory of Bill Howard.

Libby Appel's love for Anton Chekhov began decades ago, and she finds it a great honor in her last season to adapt and direct the playwright's final and "perfect" play. The Cherry Orchard was written and produced in 1904 and six months later Chekhov died at the age of 44. In Appel's opinion it is not only an ideal play, but a poem of perfection that portrays the evanescence of a way of life and the memories it evokes. This is the humorously ironic story of Lyubov Andreyevna and her family, who cling to their ancestral home and its cherry orchards in the face of certain loss.

Judith-Marie Bergan will play Lyubov; Richard Howard plays her brother, Leonid Gayev; Christine Albright is Lyubov's daughter, Anya; Gwendolyn Mulamba is Varya, Lyubov's adopted daughter; Armando Durán is Yermolai Lopakhin, the family friend; and Gregory Linington is Pyotr Trofimov, the tutor. Others in the cast are Christopher DuVal, Robynn Rodriguez, Nancy Rodriguez, Anthony Heald, Richard Elmore, John Tufts, U. Jonathan Toppo, Rafael Untalan and Adam Yazbeck.

Scenic design is by guest artist Rachel Hauck (The Winter's Tale, Richard III, Hedda Gabler); costumes are by Resident Costume Designer Deborah M. Dryden; lighting by guest artist James F. Ingalls (UP, By the Waters of Babylon); composer is Todd Barton; Alison Horsley is the translator and dramaturg; Scott Kaiser is Voice & Text Director, and Suzanne Seiber is choreographer.

On the Razzle (February 24-October 28) by Tom StoppardProduction Sponsor: Ed McCurtainProduction Partners: C. Beth Cotner and John M. Alogna, Mrs. Donald Hare, Charlotte Lin and Robert P. Porter, Avista

Weinberl, a clerk in Zangler's provincial provisions shop, itches for a day filled with high jinks and beautiful women. It seems unlikely, though, that he and the shop's apprentice, Christopher, will get a chance to leave their post. But when Zangler is off to Vienna, the young men see an opportunity to go "on the razzle." From the author of Rough Crossing (produced by OSF in 1997 to record houses), fun rules in this high-energy comedy based on the story that inspired The Matchmaker and Hello, Dolly! Laird Williamson, in his 13th season at OSF, will direct.

Tony DeBruno plays Zangler; Rex Young is Weinberl and Tasso Feldman (making his OSF debut) is Christopher. Others in the 20-member cast include G. Valmont Thomas, Terri McMahon, Suzanne Irving, Shad Willingham, Catherine E. Coulson, and Eileen DeSandre.

Scenic design is by guest artist Michael Ganio; costumes are by Robert Blackman; lighting is by Kendall Smith; sound design by Dennis M. Kambury and the composer is Larry Delinger. David Copelin is dramaturg, and Louis Colaianni is Voice & Text Director.

Rabbit Hole (February 25-June 22) by David Lindsay-AbaireProduction Sponsor: Jed and Celia Meese Foundation

Becca and Howie have suffered an agonizing loss, and they are slowly moving away from each other, unable to talk about their grief and guilt. Becca's boisterous sister, her meddling mother, a barking dog and a house filled with painful memories further aggravate the situation. By the author of Fuddy Meers, this new drama takes audiences on a parent's heart-rending journey with compassion and humor--and maps a way out.

OSF veteran Bill Geisslinger plays Howie, Robin Goodrin Nordli is his wife Becca, Dee Maaske is her mother Nat, Tyler Layton plays Becca's sister Izzy, and Jeris Schaefer is Jason.

Rabbit Hole is directed by Associate Artist James Edmondson, who also directed Fuddy Meers in 2001. Costumes are designed by Deborah Trout, in her ninth season at OSF; scenic design is by Principal Theatre and Scenic Designer Richard Hay; lighting is by Darren McCroom (Intimate Apparel, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Topdog/Underdog); music by Irwin Appel. David Copelin is dramaturg and Scott Kaiser is Voice & Text Director.

Previews, Openings and Tickets

Tickets remain available to previews and most opening performances. Patrons can save 40 percent on preview tickets. Tickets may be purchased online or call the Box Office at (541) 482-4331. Preview and opening times and dates are as follows (sold-out performances not included):

As You Like It Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m. (preview)
As You Like It Tuesday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m. (preview)
As You Like It Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. (opening)

The Cherry Orchard Saturday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m. (preview)
The Cherry Orchard Wednesday, Feb. 21, 8 p.m. (preview)
The Cherry Orchard Saturday, Feb. 24, 1:30 p.m. (opening)

On the Razzle Sunday, Feb. 18, 8 p.m. (preview)
On the Razzle Thursday, Feb. 22, 8 p.m. (preview)
On the Razzle Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 p.m. (opening)

Rabbit Hole Thursday, Feb. 22, 8 p.m. (preview)
Rabbit Hole Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m. (preview)
Rabbit Hole Sunday, Feb. 25, 1:30 p.m. (opening)

An Important Note about Matinees, Parking and Access

Please note that matinees will begin at 1:30 p.m. through June 3. Starting June 5, when evening performances begin at 8:30 p.m., matinees will start at 2:00 p.m. Performance times will change back on August 14, when evening shows once again begin at 8:00 p.m. and matinee performances begin at 1:30 p.m.

The city-owned parking facility next to the New Theatre is available for parking. Cost of parking is $1.00 during the day and $3.00 at night.