‘Pericles, Prince of Tyre’ comes to life this summer

WEST HARTFORD — When you think of legendary travelers, names like Odysseus, Bilbo Baggins and even Indiana Jones come to mind. But “Pericles, Prince of Tyre" is Shakespeare’s adventure tale. Throughout his epic journey, Pericles matches wits with a murderous king, is pursued by an assassin, battles a shipwrecking storm, and fights knights for the hand of a beautiful princess.

The production will be directed by David McCamish, the director of the Festival’s “All’s Well That Ends Well” production in 2014, as well as an actor, director and theater faculty member at the Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor and the Hartt School of Drama in West Hartford. The artistic team for “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” also includes longtime collaborators David Regan (set and puppetry design), Vivianna Lamb (costumes), Robyn Joyce (lighting design) and Christine Simoes (choreography).

To heighten the “storytelling” aspect of this adventure tale, the entire cast of “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” will share many ensemble roles, even switching between characters on stage. The cast features Andrey Vdovenko as Pericles and Dominique Rose as his wife (Thaisa). Many returning Capital Classics favorites will be part of the Festival, including Aurelia Clunie (Dionyza and Goddess Diana), Michael Nowicki (King Antiochus and King Simonides), Geoffrey Sheehan (Gower), Kiera Sheehan (ensemble), Laura Sheehan (Helicanus and Bawd), Debra Walsh (Cerimon, Pander and Lychorida) and Corey Welden (ensemble). The cast also includes Austin Doughty (Lysimachus), Katie Elman (Marina), Jerry Hamilton (ensemble), Josh Karam (Thaliard and Cleon), Alex Kydd (Bolt and Leonine), and Haley Tyson (Antiochus’ daughter; Philemon).

As Connecticut's oldest continuously running outdoor Shakespeare festival, Capital Classics has a reputation for making Shakespeare accessible and affordable. Over three weekends, the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival attracts more than 2,100 fans, who attend each summer with family, friends, lawn chairs and picnic baskets on the grounds of the University of Saint Joseph to enjoy outdoor Shakespeare under the stars.

The Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival is held on outdoors (indoors in case of rain) at the University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Avenue in West Hartford, CT. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for students and seniors, and are available online at Tickets.USJ.edu, at the door or by calling the box office at 860-231-5555.

Learn more about Capital Classics and the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival at HartfordShakespeare.org.

Contributed photo Capital Classics Theatre Company is staging “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” July 12 to 29 for the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival on the outdoor grounds of the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford.