For Immediate Release

Contact: David Henderson, dhenderson@hartfordstage.org

860.520.7250, cell 917.488.9086

Hartford Stage Announces Cast

of Season Opener, Hedda Gabler

Hartford, CT, July 30, 2012 - Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, today announced the cast of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, the season opener of the Tony Award-winning theatre's 49th season, on stage from August 30 through September 23. Opening Night will be at 8 p.m. Friday, September 7.

Roxanna Hope, who played Caroline Cushing in Frost/Nixon on Broadway, adds the role of Hedda Gabler, one of the theatre's most arresting characters - to an already major line-up of heroines, including Lady Anne, Hermione, Portia, Thaisa, Madame de Tourvel, Polixena, Lily Bart, Scheherazade, and Turandot (the last two with director Darko Tresnjak). She appeared in the American premiere of Tom Stoppard's Indian Act at American Conservatory Theater and has acted opposite Olympia Dukakis, Vanessa Redgrave, Corin Redgrave, and Jean Stapleton. Her film and television credits include The Good Wife, Law and Order, No Reservations, and Puncture.

The cast of Hedda Gabler will also include John Patrick Hayden (Broadway's Tartuffe) as George Tesman; Sam Redford (The Hurt Locker) as Eilert Lovborg; Sara Topham (Hartford Stage's The Tempest) as Thea; Thomas Jay Ryan (cult classic Henry Fool) as Judge Brack; Kandis Chappell (Sondheim and Furth's Getting Away with Murder on Broadway) as Miss Julia Tesman; and Anne O'Sullivan (Broadway's Blithe Spirit) as Berta.

Jennifer Tarver, the award-winning Canadian director, who is closely associated with The Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, will helm the Jon Robin Baitz adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece.

CRITICS, PLEASE NOTE: The official press night for Hedda Gabler will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5.

Hartford Stage Company

Hartford Stage, since its founding in 1963, has been known for innovative revivals of classics and the development of important new works, including 65 World or American premieres. Recent work includes Quiara Alegria Hudes'Water by the Spoonful, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Horton Foote'sThe Orphans' Home Cyclewhich had a celebrated run at the Signature Theatre in New York during the 2009-2010 season; a landmark production of Harper Lee'sTo Kill a Mockingbird;the premieres of Michael Kramer'sDivine Rivalry;and Daniel Beaty'sResurrection (later retitledThrough the Night,which had a successful run off-Broadway during the 2010-11 season). In 1998 the theatre launched an unprecedented ten-year retrospective of Tennessee Williams, which included the premiere of three plays. Other new work includes the premieres of Eve Ensler'sNecessary Targets, Edward Albee'sAt Home at the Zoo,Matthew Barber'sEnchanted April(which transferred to Broadway), Matthew Lombardo'sTea at Five, and many others. The theatre has earned numerous distinguished honors, including a Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the Margo Jones Award, OBIE awards, New York Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards. In 2005 Hartford Stage was awarded The Hartford Courant's Tapestry Award recognizing its outstanding work in diversity, and in 2008 it was awarded the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder's Award recognizing its excellence in building community in Greater Hartford. Hartford Stage is currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts.