PSarah Afful as Bianca and Mike Shara as Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew. Photography by David Hou.
PSarah Afful as Bianca and Mike Shara as Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew. Photography by David Hou.
Ben Carlson, Deborah Hay. Photography by Don Dixon.
Ben Carlson, Deborah Hay. Photography by Don Dixon.
Jonathan Goad. Photography by Don Dixon.
Jonathan Goad. Photography by Don Dixon.
Jonathan Goad. Photography by Don Dixon.
Jonathan Goad. Photography by Don Dixon.
Stratford Festival HD brings the epic drama and comedy
of Shakespeare to U.S. screens

Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew and
The Adventures of Pericles in theaters starting April 24
Series Debut Coincides with 400th Anniversary
of Shakespeare’s Legacy
Stratford, Ontario– The Stratford Festival, North America’s
leading classical theatre company, today announced its 2016 U.S. schedule of
high-definition theater screenings of the Festival’s critically acclaimed
productions of Shakespeare’s iconic works. Captured onscreen for audiences
nationwide, the series kicks off on April 24 with the HD debut of Hamlet. The
series continues with The Adventures of Pericles beginning May 8, and with The
Taming of the Shrew beginning May 29.

Distributed this spring by SpectiCast Entertainment, the productions continue the
massive initiative by the Stratford Festival’s Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, to
capture all of Shakespeare’s plays over the next 10 years and bring them to a
global audience. Noted producer and director Barry Avrich has captured the
productions using 10 cameras and 128 tracks of sound to create an immersive
high-definition, surround-sound experience while remaining faithful to the stage
version of the productions.

Coming to theaters across the U.S. this summer:
 Hamlet – It’s been called the greatest play in the English language and
this production “the most complete, most fulfilling, most satisfying in
decades of theatergoing.” Jonathan Goad is witty and courageous in the
title role, but also deeply human. The film excites and surprises at every
turn, with a cast of some of the finest classical actors in the world bringing
to life the most intense and heart-breaking relationships the stage has
ever seen. Directed for the stage by Antoni Cimolino. Directed for film by
Shelagh O’Brien. Produced by Barry Avrich.

 The Taming of the Shrew – Shakespeare’s boisterous comedy will stir
your emotions with the love story of Katherina and Petruchio, the feisty
couple at the center of Shakespeare’s most pointed social commentary.
Deborah Hay gives a “performance for the ages” as the Shrew, and Ben
Carlson is the perfect counterpoint as her plotting suitor, creating a
chemistry that sets the stage alight. Directed for the stage by Chris
Abraham. Produced and directed for film by Barry Avrich.

 The Adventures of Pericles – One storm at sea brings love into the life
of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, while another snatches it away. This magical
production of Shakespeare’s epic tale is “moving from beginning to
end.” Evan Buliung gives a sweeping performance, portraying the
dashing young prince with verve and swagger, and taking him into his
elder years with sorrowful tenderness. A story rarely told, and one you
won’t soon forget! Directed for the stage by Scott Wentworth. Produced
and directed for film by Barry Avrich.

Additional screening locations will be updated weekly:
http://www.specticast.com/en/categories/stratford-festival-hd-2016-series
The Stratford Festival HD project launched in February 2015 with the release of
King Lear, King John, and Antony and Cleopatra. For more information visit
www.stratfordfestival.ca/HD
For artwork/photos and b-roll related to Stratford Festival HD please visit
https://www.hightail.com/download/ZWJWZFhsT01IcWY0WjlVag
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
*U.S. and international distribution is through SpectiCast Entertainment, the
fastest growing event cinema marketing and distribution company in the world.
Stratford Festival HD is sponsored by Sun Life Financial, as part of their
Making the Arts More Accessible™ program. Generous support is provided by
Laura Dinner & Richard Rooney, the Jenkins Family Foundation, the Henry
White Kinnear Foundation, Ophelia & Mike Lazaridis, Sandra & Jim
Pitblado, the Slaight Family Foundation, and Robert & Jacqueline
Sperandio. The Festival also acknowledges the generous support of the Federal
Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
Running Time: 180 minutes (including 15-minute intermission show)
Rating: PG
ABOUT THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL
The Stratford Festival has been setting the standard for classical theater in North
America for more than 60 years. With the works of Shakespeare at its core, this
acclaimed repertory theater presents a seven-month season of a dozen or more
plays in four venues, along with a Forum of events to enrich the play-going
experience. Since its revolutionary first season in 1953, it has welcomed more
than 26 million theatergoers from around the world, people who flock to this small
Canadian town for one reason: an unparalleled quality of performance. In 2015,
under the leadership of Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and Executive Director
Anita Gaffney, the Stratford Festival embarked upon a 10-year initiative to
capture the entire Shakespeare canon in spectacular HD, bringing the work of
this renowned company to audiences around the world.
Molly Quiring, BHI
[email protected]
11500 W Olympic Blvd. Suite 655 | Los Angeles, CA 90064
D: 310-694-3120 | C: 323-273-3356
Jeanne Prisyazhnaya, BHI
[email protected]
470 7th Ave. – 5th Floor | New York, NY 10018
C: 917-861-9490
Ann Swerdfager, Stratford Festival
[email protected]
55 Queen Street | Stratford ON | N5A 6V2
519.271.4040 x2297

Jonathan Goad as Hamlet in Hamlet. Photography by David Hou.
Jonathan Goad as Hamlet in Hamlet. Photography by David Hou.

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