NEWS

Graham Abbey to Star in Resurgence's HAMLET

York Shakespeare Festival offers a season for patrons of all ages - York Region's Premiere Outdoor Summer Theatre Festival
May 26, 2010 - News Release, Resurgence Theatre Company

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Newmarket, ON, May 26, 2010 - Resurgence Theatre Company is proud to unveil an exciting line-up for the 2010 York Shakespeare Festival which will run from August 9 to 29, 2010 - celebrating twelve seasons of producing professional outdoor theatre on the shores of Fairy Lake in Newmarket, Ontario.

The Festival will kick off with William Shakespeare’s Hamlet starring celebrated Canadian actor Graham Abbey. Mr. Abbey is currently the star of CBC's television drama, The Border, now in its third season. He spent ten seasons at the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival as a leading man playing the title roles in Macbeth, Henry V and Henry VII in addition to Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew and Jacques in As You Like It. Graham also starred as Cassio in the CBC’s 2008 television production of Othello and has appeared in such films as Casino Jack opposite Kevin Spacey and Defendor opposite Sandra Oh and Woody Harrelson, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Fesitival in 2009.

"It’s beyond exciting to have a leading man of Graham’s calibre on stage with Resurgence in one of the most challenging roles ever written," says Resurgence Theatre Company’s co-founder Lee Wilson, who is directing the play. Mr. Wilson is currently assistant directing the Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest directed by two-time Tony and Olivier award-winning director of the Jersey Boys, Des McAnuff, and starring Christopher Plummer. A native of Newmarket, Lee’s credits, in addition to his work with Resurgence, include work at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, the Old Vic in London, England and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-On-The-Lake.

Joining Mr. Abbey on stage are: David Ferry (star of CTV’s Dan for Mayor and former Resurgence’s Artistic Director) in the role of Claudius, Jane Spence (Stratford Festival, Bard on the Beach) as Ophelia, Jeffrey Wetsch (Stratford Festival, Mirvish’s Dirty Dancing) as Laertes, and John Jarvis (Soulpepper Theatre) as Polonius.

The Festival will also feature a stage adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book featuring the students of Resurgence’s Senior Summer Youth Theatre Conservatory. This classic tale of a boy who is raised by wolves in the jungles of India, will be directed by Ashlie Corcoran who directed The Secret Garden for Resurgence in 2008.

All tickets for Hamlet are $27/person and all tickets for The Jungle Book are $10/person. They can be purchased online, by phone or in person at the Newmarket Theatre Box Office (905) 953-5122 (ticket information)

Media Contact: Anthony Leo (647) 261-4065 - Email: anthony@resurgence.ca.