Photo Flash: First Look at Shakespeare Theatre Company's THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR

STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn directs Nikolai Gogol’s satire The Government Inspector, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. The first Russian play to grace the STC mainstage, its cast includes STC Affiliated Artists Floyd King as the Postmaster, Nancy Robinette as Anna, David Sabin as the Judge, Derek Smith as Hlestakov and Tom Story as the Doctor. Rounding out The cast are Claire Brownell as Marya, Liam Craigas Osip, Rick Foucheux as the Mayor, Sarah Marshall as Grusha/Innkeeper’s Wife/Corporal’s Widow, Hugh Nees as Bobchinsky, Lawrence Redmond as the Hospital Director, Craig Wallace as the School Principal and Harry Winter as Dobchinsky.

In Gogol’s hilarious satire of provincial Russian bureaucracy, Hlestakov, a civil servant who is running out of money, travels from Saint Petersburg to a small town where his imagination runs rampant. When bumbling town officials mistake him for an incognito inspector investigating them for corruption, a comedy of errors begins and chaos ensues. The Government Inspector satirizes corruption and self deception.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has become one of the nation’s leading theatre companies. Today, STC is synonymous with artistic excellence and making classical theatre more accessible. Under the leadership of Artistic DirectorMichael Kahnand Managing DirectorChris Jennings, STC’s innovative approach to Shakespeare and other classic playwrights has earned it the reputation as the nation’s premier classical theatre company. By focusing on works with profound themes, complex characters and poetic language written by Shakespeare, his contemporaries and the playwrights he influenced, The company’s artistic mission is unique among theatre companies: to present theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their work through a 21st-century lens.

Located in our nation’s capital, STC performs in two theatres, the Lansburgh Theatre and Sidney Harman Hall in downtown Washington, D.C., creating a dynamic, cultural hub of activity that showcases STC as well as outstanding local performing arts groups and nationally renowned organizations. STC moved into the 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre in March 1992, after six years in residency in the Folger Library’s Elizabethan theatre. At that time the Penn Quarter neighborhood was not considered desirable by many; since then, STC has helped drive its revitalization. The 774-seat Sidney Harman Hall opened in October 2007.

To reserve tickets or for more information, call the box office at 202.547.1122 or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org.

Derek Smith as Hlestakov with Claire Brownell as Marya

David Sabin as the Judge

Nancy Robinette as Anna and Derek Smith as Hlestakov

Nancy Robinette as Anna, Rick Foucheux as the Mayor and Claire Brownell as Marya

Harry A. Winter as Dobchinsky and Hugh Nees as Bobchinsky

Liam Craig as Osip and Derek Smith as Hlestakov

Derek Smith as Hlestakov and Sarah Marshall as the Innkeeper’s Wife

Claire Brownell as Marya and Derek Smith as Hlestakov with Tom Story as the Doctor