2006-2007 Season Opens With An Enemy of the People

The Shakespeare Theatre Company opens its 2006-2007 season with Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. Translated by Rick Davis and Brian Johnston and directed by Kjetil Bang-Hansen. Written following Ibsen's maddening experiences with censorship, An Enemy of the People depicts how society often deliberately and ruthlessly ostracizes its truth-tellers.

For the production, Bang-Hansen directs a cast that includes Caitlin O'Connell, Rick Foucheux, Robin Gammell, Philip Goodwin, Derek Lucci, Tyrone Mitchell Henderson, Peter Rini, Samantha Soule and Joseph Urla.

KPMG, LLC is production sponsor, while m edia partner Roll Call provides promotional support throughout the run.

The play begins with Dr. Stockmann, medical officer to his town's tourist baths, discovering that the baths are contaminated with fatal bacteria. Assuming that his discovery will garner him praise and admiration, Stockmann eagerly reveals his findings to the town's Mayor (his brother, Peter) and local newspaper.

He is shocked when the Mayor demands he publicly refute his findings in order to save the townspeople the cost of fixing the problem. After discussions with the Mayor, the newspaper refuses to print Stockmann's findings and instead publishes a negative piece on Stockmann. Stockmann decides to hold a public meeting where he can read his report, but the town's people turn against him. Terrified of losing the baths' tourist dollars, the people vote unanimously to brand Stockmann "an enemy of the people."

"I would describe it as kind of tragic comedy, a great piece of irony," said Bang-Hansen. "It is more of a political play than a psychological play, about how a democratic society can suddenly turn around and be vicious, how idealism can hide a desire for power. At the end of the play, Dr. Stockmann has lost everything, and he says, 'The strongest man in the world is the one who stands most alone,' which is a lie, a complete lie. This is not a story about John Wayne riding alone into the sunset. The terrible irony of the play is that he's lost everything, and the water is still as contaminated as before. It still goes on and on and on."

THE DIRECTOR:

Kjetil Bang-Hansen makes his Shakespeare Theatre Company directing debut with An Enemy of the People. Bang-Hansen has directed more than 100 productions in theatres all over Norway, as well as in Poland, France, Denmark and the United States. This includes plays by Sophocles, Shakespeare, Molière, Ibsen, Chekov, Brecht and plays of every genre from the contemporary repertoire, including musicals.

He was the Resident Director at Oslo Nye Teater from 1970 to 1971; the founder and artistic leader of "Teatret VÃ¥rt," Møre and Romsdal Regional Theatre from 1971 to 1973; the Principal of the Norwegian State Drama School in Oslo from 1973 to 1976; the Artistic Director of Rogaland Teater in Stavanger from 1976 to 1982; Artistic Director of Den Nationale Scene in Bergen 1982 from 1986; the Artistic Director of Nationaltheatret in Oslo from 1986 to 1987; the Resident Director of Det Norske Teatret in Oslo from 1987 to 1994; the Resident Director of Nationaltheatret in Oslo from 1994 to 1996; the Artistic Director of Oslo Nye Teater from 1996 to 2001. Since 2002, he has served as the Resident Director of Nationaltheatret in Oslo.

Bang-Hansen has written numerous articles plus two books on theatre. The first book came in 1972 and was a study on Henrik Ibsen's play An Enemy of the People. His last book came in 1987 and was a collection of theatre articles written over the course of 20 years.

He has received numerous prices and awards for his works in the theatre, including the prestigious Free Word Prize (Fritt Ord) in 1983. Bang-Hansen was awarded Das Verdienstkreuz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in 1986; Chevalier L´Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France in 1994; and Ridder av 1 klasse av St. Olavs Orden in Norway in 2001.

THE CAST:

Joseph Urla makes his Shakespeare Theatre Company debut as Dr. Stockmann. Urla's theatre credits include 11 seasons at the National Playwrights Conference, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew ( directed by Mark Lamos) at Yale Repertory, Prince Hal in Henry IV (directed by Austin Pendleton) at Williamstown Theatre Festival, and leading roles at Second Stage, New York Shakespeare Festival, Mark Taper Forum, La Jolla Playhouse and Actors Theatre of Louisville, among others.

Caitlin O'Connell returns to play Mrs. Stockmann. O'Connell last appeared with the Shakespeare Theatre Company in the 1996 production of All's Well That Ends Well. Other Shakespeare Theatre Company credits include Macbeth (1995), Henry IV (1994), The Merry Wives of Windsor (1990) and several Free For All productions. O'Connell also performed in the Off-Broadway production of Give Me Your Answer, Do and at Center Stage, Guthrie Theater and McCarter Theatre, among many others.

Rick Foucheux returns to play Aslasken, the printer of The People's Tribune , the town's newspaper. Foucheux made his Shakespeare Theatre Company debut in the Free For All production of Pericles. Foucheux's regional credits include performances with Woolly Mammoth, Arena Stage, Source Theatre, Folger Theatre, Round House Theatre, Theater J and Studio Theatre.

Robin Gammell returns to play Morten Kiil, Mrs. Stockmann's foster father. Gammell made his Shakespeare Theatre Company debut as Judge Brack in Hedda Gabler. He has performed with the New York Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, ACT, Stratford Festival and in numerous films.

Philip Goodwin returns to play Peter Stockmann, the mayor and the doctor's brother. Goodwin last appeared with the Shakespeare Theatre Company as Prospero in The Tempest (2005). His numerous other Shakespeare Theatre Company credits include The Winter's Tale , Timon of Athens , King John , Henry VI and Measure for Measure. Goodwin has performed in the Broadway productions of Tartuffe , The Diary of Anne Frank and The School for Scandal and with The Acting Company, Guthrie Theater and Hartford Stage.

Derek Lucci makes his Shakespeare Theatre Company debut as Hovstad, editor of The People's Tribune. Lucci has performed with the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, Yale Repertory and FringeNYC.

Tyrone Mitchell Henderson makes his Shakespeare Theatre Company debut as Billing, Hovstad's assistant. Henderson has performed with the New York Shakespeare Festival and Alliance Theatre and in the national tour of Bring in 'Da Noise/Bring in 'Da Funk

Peter Rini returns to play Captain Horster, who offers to help the Stockmann family after they are ostracized. Rini has appeared in Shakespeare Theatre Company productions of Much Ado about Nothing (2002) and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Free For All). Broadway credits include Neil Simon's Proposals , A View from the Bridge and Tartuffe: Born Again! Regional credits include performances with Long Wharf Theatre, Hartford Stage, American Repertory Theatre and Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Samantha Soule returns to play Petra, Stockmann's daughter and a teacher. Soule last appeared as Miranda in the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of The Tempest (2005). Soule's New York credits include performances with Lincoln Center Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Source and Pearl Theatre. She also has appeared in regional productions at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, San Diego 's Old Globe and Williamstown Theatre Festival.
The cast also includes ensemble member Nick Vienna.

THE DESIGNERS: For the production, Bang-Hansen and his designers have created a world reminiscent of the mid-1930s, a dark and difficult time in both Europe and the United States. Set and Costume Designer Timian Alsaker has created a harsh, black and white set, bordered by corroded pipes. His costumes, mostly in gray, black and white, echo the business suits and dresses of the mid-1930s. Alsaker began his career at the National Theatre in London. His 100-plus set, costume and lighting designs have been on stages throughout Europe, and he also had designed for film and television. Charlie Morrison joins the team as lighting designer. Morrison designed the lights for Shakespeare Theatre Company productions of Othello (2004) and The Tempest (2004) and served as associate lighting designer for A Midsummer Night's Dream and Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2. The design team also includes Resident Sound Designer Martin Desjardins and Voice and Text Coach Gary Logan.

By www.shakespearetheatre.org