Bob Singleton and Adam Luckey, shown here in the SummerFest 2009 production of "Jekyll and Hyde," will be back in "The Merchant of Venice," this year. By Rich Copley | LexGo.
In many pursuits we talk about how something looks on paper — how capable are the forces that have been assembled at accomplishing the task at hand? By that criteria, it looks like a great July in the Arboretum for SummerFest 2010.
Cast lists have been released for all the Summerfest productions, and they all include some of the Lexington area’s top talents as well as intriguing new names, and a few old friends we haven’t seen on stage in a while.
The Merchant of Venice, for instance, includes Lisa Thomas and Jeff Sherr, one-time local stage mainstays who’ve been away lately. Pride and Prejudice has Kentucky Classical Theatre Conservatory director Trish Clark playing mother to her real life daughter, Ellie Clark, as Elizabeth Bennett and also features the return of Tom Phillips to local stages as Mr. Darcy. And the Rent cast mixes fresh faces like local rocker John Dawson as Roger with familiar musical talents like Nick Vannoy as Collins in an intriguing cast. And the cast lists overall are dappled with actors in “I can see that” roles like Adam Luckey as Shylock in Merchant.
So here’s how SummerFest looks on paper. In a few months we’ll see how it looks on stage.
The Merchant of Venice
July 7-11, directed by Ave Lawyer
Shylock - Adam Luckey
Portia - Lisa Thomas
Antonio - Carmen Geraci
Bassanio - Bob Singleton
Gratiano - Evan Bergman
Salarino - Ryan Briggs
Lorenzo - Tanner Gray
Jessica - Joe Elswick
Nerissa - Rosanna Hurt
Launcelot - Patrick Davis
Duke - Jack McIntyre
Aragon - Jeff Sherr
Balthazar - Cameron Perry
The roles of Tubal, Morocco, and Salanio have yet to be cast
Pride And Prejudice
July 14-18, directed by Sullivan Canaday White
Mrs. Bennett - Trish Clark
Elizabeth Bennett - Ellie Clark
Jane Bennett – Holly Brady
Mary Bennett - Annie Barbera
Kitty Bennett - Erin Cutler
Lydia Barrett / Georgiana - Avery Wigglesworth
Mr. Darcy - Tom Phillips
Mr. Bingley/ Colonol Fitzwilliam - G. B. Dixon
Charlotte - Sarah Levy
Sir William Lucas/Mr. Collins/Mr. Gardner - Tim Hull
Miss Bingley/Mrs. Gardiner - Vanessa Becker
Lady Catherine - Stephanie Peniston
George Wickham - Drew Davidson
The role of Mr. Bennet has yet to be cast.
Rent
July 21-25, directed by Tracey Bonner
Mimi Márquez - Jessica Lucas
Roger Davis - John Dawson
Mark Cohen - Chip Becker
Maureen Johnson - Caroline Griffeth
Angel Dumott Schunard - Emanuel Williams
Tom Collins - Nick Vannoy
Joanne Jefferson - Sheronda Piersall
Benjamin ‘Benny’ Coffin III - Thomas Gibbs
Seasons Of Love Soloist - Jessica French
The Ensemble Includes: Casey Mather, Justin Norris, Sarah Matthews, Brandon Smith, Andrea Johnson, Beth Kovarik, Wood Van Meter and Katie Berger.
