Cast Announced
"As You Like It" On The Common

“All the world’s a stage…” and a very talented group of actors will play their parts in this summer’s Citi Performing Arts Center Free Shakespeare production of “As You Like It,” playing for three weeks on Boston Common, from July 18 - August 3.

Performances of “As You Like It” on Boston Common will take place at the Parkman Bandstand. All performances are free and open to the public.

“As You Like It” continues the popular midsummer tradition that has brought Shakespeare under the stars to more than 885,000 people over the last decade.

Known as one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, “As You Like It” is a captivating exploration of status, power and the bewitching mystery of love. The memorable romp through the Forest of Arden follows the adventures of Rosalind, a good-hearted optimist, and her pursuit for true love. From sorrow to laughter and banishment to marriage, the play involves conversations about life, love and a clash of views, with an endearing mixture of romantic and slapstick comedy. The game of love is played out until identities are revealed and all is resolved.

The cast features Obie Award-winning stars of stage and screen Marin Ireland as Rosalind and Fred Weller as Orlando, along with Ali Marsh as Celia, Larry Coen as Touchstone, Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Jacques, Dan Roach as Oliver, Johnny Lee Davenport as Duke Senior, Jennie Israel as Phebe, Paul Melendy as Silvius, and Noah Tuleja as Duke Frederick.

Following the Boston run, the production will travel to Springfield, MA, playing at Forest Park from August 8 - 10. Directed by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler, the program’s corporate presenting sponsor is Citi.

Marin Ireland (Rosalind) won an Obie Award for her role in "Cyclone" and has appeared Off-Broadway in many other productions, including "The Ruby Sunrise," “Manuscript,” and “Sabina.” Regionally, she starred in the world premiere of the Huntington Theatre Company’s “Mauritius” and has been seen on film in “I Am Legend,” “The Manchurian Candidate,” “Dancing with Shiva” directed by Jonathan Demme and “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” directed by John Krasinski.

Fred Weller (Orlando) received a Drama Desk Award nomination for “Best Featured Actor” for his role in Richard Greenberg’s “Take Me Out” and won an Obie Award for his role in “Curtains.” He was in both the London and New York runs of Neil LaBute’s “The Shape of Things” as well as the 2003 film version of the play. Broadway credits include “The Little Foxes” with Stockard Channing and “Six Degrees of Separation.” He co-stars with Mary McCormack in the USA Networks' “In Plain Sight,” premiering in June.

Ali Marsh (Celia) counts among her stage credits productions with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, as well as various regional appearances. TV credits include "As the World Turns," “Law and Order” and “Seinfeld.”

Larry Coen (Touchstone) starred in last summer’s Free Shakespeare, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and received the 2007 Elliot Norton Award for"Outstanding Actor, Small/Midsize Theater" for his performances in five productions, including “The Taming of the Shrew,” the 2006 Free Shakespeare production.

Fred Sullivan, Jr. (Jacques), also seen in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last summer, is a longtime member of Trinity Rep’s resident acting company.

Dan Roach (Oliver) has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions and on stages in Los Angeles.

Johnny Lee Davenport (Duke Senior) counts 28 of the Bard's plays among his credits, recently having been seen in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Boston Common last summer and in ASP's“ Love's Labour’s Lost” and “Hamlet.” Film and TV credits include “The Blues Brothers,” “The Fugitive” and “Law & Order.”

Jennie Israel (Phebe) was Lady Macbeth in CSC’s 2003 production of “Macbeth” and has performed regionally with New Rep, Actors Shakespeare Project and Shakespeare & Co.

Paul Melendy (Silvius) has performed in the Free Shakespeare productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Noah Tuleja (Duke Frederick) has worked as a professional actor, director and fight choreographer in both the U.S. and England, including work with Trinity Rep.

The cast also includes Jim Wrynn (Corin); Jeff Gill (Adam/Martext); Scott Raker (Jacques deBoys); Tom Gleadow (Amiens); Kelby Akin (Charles/William); Haas Regen (LeBeau); Lindsey McWhorter (Hymen); Becky Webber (Audrey); Jerell Lee Wesley (Dennis); Samson Kohanski (Guitar); Greg Ferrisi (Musician/Ensemble); Marie Polizzano (Ensemble); and Faith Imafidon (Ensemble).

Steven Maler most recently directed the Citi Performing Arts Center Free Shakespeare production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Boston Common, and the American Premiere of Peter Eötvös’ operatic adaptation of “Angels in America” for Opera Boston and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. As the Founding Artistic Director of CSC, he has directed all of their productions. His CSC production of “Much Ado About Nothing” won the IRNE Award for Best Director, his “Twelfth Night” won the Elliot Norton Award for “Best Production,” his first CSC production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” won the Norton Award for "Outstanding Director,” his production of “Suburbia” for the SpeakEasy Stage Company won the Norton Award for "Best Production," and his production of John Kuntz’s“Starf***ers” won the Norton Award for “Best Solo Performance.”

Since 1996, and in conjunction with the Citi Performing Arts Center since 2003, CSC has performed free professional productions of Shakespeare for Boston audiences during the summer months. Previous productions have included “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (2007), “The Taming of the Shrew”(2006), “Hamlet” (2005), “Much Ado About Nothing” (2004), “Macbeth” (2003), “Henry V” (2002), “Twelfth Night” (2001), “The Tempest” (2002), “Julius Caesar” (1999), “As You Like It” (1998), “Romeo and Juliet” (1997) and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (1996).

The 3rd annual Celebrate Shakespeare Day, a program of Citi Performing Arts Center’s Education Department, will be held on Saturday, August 2, also at the Parkman Bandstand. Celebrate Shakespeare Day is a multi-faceted free event featuring workshops, performances, backstage tours, and lectures for the public to enjoy and learn more about the works of William Shakespeare.

For more information about “As You Like It,” call 617-482-9393 or visit www.citicenter.org.

-- OnStage Boston