Illinois Shakespeare Festival to Open June 24

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival will begin its 32nd year on Thursday, June 24, with the first performance of The Tempest. On Friday, June 25, Ewing Manor will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Shakespeare in the Theatre at Ewing followed by the world premiere of the new adaptation of The Three Musketeers from award-winning playwright Robert Kauzlaric. Guests of the specially priced event will be treated to a walk down the red carpet, souvenir photo with a costumed actor and a special treat at admission.

The Three Musketeers, The Tempest and The Merry Wives of Windsor will be performed in revolving repertory through Aug. 8.

Tickets are available at the festival box office in the Center for the Performing Arts from 11 to 5 p.m. weekdays, by phone at (309) 438-2535 or at the Illinois Shakespeare website. The performance evening box office, located at the Ewing Manor box office, will be open at 5:30 p.m. on performance evenings.

Directing this summer's productions are artistic director and Illinois State Associate Professor Debbie Alley (The Tempest), six-year Festival veteran Karen Kessler (Three Musketeers), director of last season's The Tempest Rebekah Scallet (As You Like It) and Catherine Weidner (Merry Wives), associate professor at The Theatre School of DePaul University in Chicago.

Among those making their debut at this year's festival are Kareem Bendealy, an ensemble member of America Theater Company and associate artist with Silk Road Theatre Project; Kyle Cameron, who has traveled from Scotland to begin his professional career; Anthony Kayer, an Oswego native currently attending the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University; Katrina Kuntz, who has performed across the country in roles such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Octavia in Antony and Cleopatra; David Marcotte, whose Shakespeare credits include playing several characters for Mythic Pictures' audio book recording of Romeo and Juliet; David Sitler, who makes his debut after working on Broadway and national and regional tours; and Max Ganet, whose most recent performance was at Illinois State as Berringer in Rhinoceros.

Two of this year's newcomers are also Illinois State University graduates. Ken Mooney is a bachelor's degree in theatre performance graduate and has worked with the Festival during his time at Illinois State. He also performed in two touring shows, Shakespeare On Love and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Megan M. Stori is a 2010 graduate of the bachelor's degree in acting and has performed in roles such as Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire and is also a three-time Irene Ryan nominee at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Other new faces include Benjamin Cole, visiting assistant professor of theatre at Grand Valley State University; George Judy, director of Louisiana State University's M.F.A. Acting Program; Gerson Dacanay, whose work includes the Steppenwolf Theater Company and Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Demetria Thomas, who recently completed her master's degreein Acting at the University of Houston; and Steve Wojtas, a 2009 master's degree graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Returning to the stage are Chris Amos for his third year; Nick Dargis, beginning his second season as an acting intern; Magdeline Donnelly, who has performed previously at the Festival as Lavinia in Titus Andronicus; and Drew Vidal, who served as fight director for the Festival last year, but is appearing on stage for the first time since 2002.