Summer is over and Southwest Shakespeare Company is deep into preparations for our Fifteenth Season. Richard Baird is directing our opening show of AS YOU LIKE IT. The cast is fantastic. Kaitlin O'Neal, an audience favorite, is back playing the role of Rosalind. Newcomers Lori McNally, Daryl Ball, and Brennan Taylor have joined SSC playing the roles of Celia, Oliver, and Orlando, respectively. Our audiences will love these three talented, energetic performers. Back again are veterans Sandy Elias, Jason Barth, James Porter, James Coates,Trey Clevenger, Amanda Schaar, and Eric Schoen. Vi Flaten, who appeared in last season's PYGMALION, will play the role of Phoebe, and Keath Hall, who was also a part of last season, will play the role of Sylvius. I think audiences will love the gorgeous set design by Pegi Marshall-Amundsen, new to us this year, along with the brilliant (pun intended) lighting design of veteran designer Paul Black. Also noteworthy will be the live incidental music provided by Stefan Dollak, of Bartholomew Faire, who also provided the live accompaniment for our production of THE TEMPEST a couple seasons ago. This is going to be a fantastic production, and one our audiences will not want to miss.

Also, in the mix, we have just cast the role of Othello, for our production of the same name in January. A wonderful, talented actor with a tremendous range of emotion will be joining us for that show. More on that when the details are ironed out, so stay tuned! And don't forget our new artistic associate, Richard Baird, will be playing Iago in that production---making that show a "must see" on your calendar.

I am busy doing what artistic directors do---producing, raising money, and preparing for my own artistic work later in the season---directing OTHELLO, TARTUFFE, and MERCHANT OF VENICE, as well as preparing to make a return to the stage as Shylock in that last production of the season.

Southwest Shakespeare Company has received 26 ARIZONI AWARD NOMINATIONS. The statewide recognition of excellence has cited SSC in many categories including best production, best actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best director, and in lighting, set, costume and hair/make-up design.

Stay tuned for more news and information, and get your season tickets now, by all means, as we are anticipating record attendance this year!