Karl Miller as HAMLET at Rep Stage

      Rep Stage, professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), will present William Shakespeare's Hamlet from March 24 through April 9, 2006 in the Smith Theatre on the college campus. HCC is located at 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD, 21044. Performances are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. (except no matinee April 8) and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. There will be a post show discussion following the Friday, March 31 performance. Press Opening matinee is Sunday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m. There are three 10 a.m. student matinees on Thursday March 30, Wednesday April 5, and Thursday April 6. Study guides for students are available on the Rep Stage website. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 410-772-4900 or online at www.howardcc.edu/repstage. Tickets are $21 Friday evenings, $15 Saturday matinees, $24 Saturday evenings, $20 Sunday matinees and $17 Sunday evenings. Student tickets are $12 for any performance.

      As a participant in the League of Washington Theatres' "Stages for All Ages" program, Rep Stage will make available one free student ticket for an adult purchasing one full-price ticket, while quantities last.

      Hamlet is heralded as Shakespeare's most profound and passionate confrontation with consciousness and mortality. From beyond the grave, a father's tormented spirit demands his son commit revenge murder, placing the young prince at the perilous juncture where free will and destiny collide. Actor Karl Miller and director Kasi Campbell join for the third time to work together at Rep Stage, with Miller previously featured in lead roles in Campbell's productions of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and Chekhov's The Seagull. Karl Miller recently received a Helen Hayes nomination for his role in Columbinus at Round House Theatre. He has also had leading roles at Theatre J, Rorschach Theatre, Washington Shakespeare Company, and recently was in the cast of Passion Play at Arena Stage. Rep Stage Associate Artistic Director Kasi Campbell is a three-time Helen Hayes nominated director, and was honored with the award for her production of Richard Greenberg's The Dazzle. Having directed at Rep Stage since its inception in 1993, some of her other projects for the company include The Seagull, Arcadia, The Violet Hour, Kimberly Akimbo, Faith Healer, Da, The Mystery of Irma Vep, Travels With My Aunt, The Lonesome West and The Swan."

      Also included in the cast in the role of Claudius is Nigel Reed, a Helen Hayes Award recipient for his role of Oscar Wilde in The Judas Kiss (also directed by Campbell). Gertrude will be performed by Valerie Leonard, Helen Hayes nominated last year for her role in The Elephant Man, and Ophelia will be played by Kathleen Coons, Helen Hayes nominated last year for her role in Mary's Wedding. Additional cast member include Aubrey Deeker as Horatio, Dan Frith as Laertes, Lawrence Redmond as Polonius, James Flanagan as Rosencrantz, Brandon McCoy as Guildenstern, Jeff Baker as Barnardo and Gravedigger, James Denvil as Ghost and First Player, and Ian Lockhart as Fortinbras and Marcellus. Rounding out the cast are Grace Anastasiadis, J.J. Area, Michael Avolio, Steve Beall, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Kevin Howard, Zak Jeffries, Christopher Niebling, Jenny Leopold, and Chrysanthy Wallace. The design team consists of Tony Cisek – set design, Dan Covey – lighting design, Kathleen Geldard – costume design, Chas Marsh – sound design, Paul Dennhardt – fight choreography, Jenny Male – assistant fight and movement coaching, Leigh Smiley – text and vocal coaching, Tim Jones – properties design, and Lisa Wilde – dramaturgy. Che Wernsman is stage manager and Jennefer Woodham is assistant stage manager.

      Rep Stage, founded in 1993 by Valerie Lash, is under the artistic direction of Michael Stebbins. The theatre is a member of the League of Washington Theatres and Baltimore Theatre Alliance, and a grant recipient of Columbia Foundation, Howard County Arts Council, and Maryland State Arts Council in partnership with National Endowment for the Arts.