Elizabeth Ashley To Star In Shakespeare Theatre Co's MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION

The Shakespeare Theatre Company has finalized the casting for the closing play of the 2009-2010 season: Mrs. Warren's Profession. Elizabeth Ashley returns to the STC stage to star as the resourceful Mrs. Warren. Ms. Ashley was last seen at STC during the 2001-2002 season in The Little Foxes. Keith Baxter directs an amazing cast which also includes Amanda Quaid as Vivie Warren, Ted Van Griethuysen as Mr. Praed, Andrew Boyer as Sir George Crofts, Tony Roach as Frank Gardner, David Sabin as Rev. S Gardner and Caitlin Diana Doyle as Ghost of Kitty Vavasour.

Elizabeth Ashley recently performed in the critically acclaimed hit August: Osage County on Broadway and was praised as being in "top form" in the role of Mattie Fae Aiken by TheaterMania.com. She received the Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for her role in Take Her, She's Mine. She also starred as Corie in the original Broadway production of Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park and later starred as the sexual Maggie in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Michael Kahn. Ms. Ashley received Tony nominations for both roles. Other Broadway credits include The Highest Tree, The Skin of Our Teeth, Caesar and Cleopatra, Legend, Hide and Seek and Agnes of God. Ms. Ashley's television credits include The Rope, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, Svengali, The War Between the Tates, Sandburg's Lincoln, Evening Shade with Burt Reynolds, Law and Order, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, The Larry Sanders Show and Homicide.

Ms. Ashley will take over the role that was recently vacated by Dixie Carter. To her great sadness, Dixie Carter will be unable to perform in Mrs. Warren's Profession. Ms. Carter has undergone surgery which is requiring a longer recuperation period than was anticipated. Artistic Director Michael Kahn was "extremely saddened to learn that Dixie would not be able to join us for Mrs. Warren's Profession. However, her health is of most importance to us and we want her to take care of herself first and foremost." After casting Ms. Ashley in the title role, Kahn said, "I'm so excited to have Elizabeth back. Her performances in Sweet Bird of Youth and The Little Foxes here were memorable."

Mrs. Warren's Profession will run from June 8 - July 11, 2010, at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW). For tickets, call the box office at 202.547.1122 or order online at ShakespeareTheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.