Shakespeare Festival Ignites Love At First Sight On The Glen In Forest Park With “As You Like It”
By Grayling Holmes / Photos courtesy of St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
The 24th season of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival ignites the Glen In Forest Park with summertime love-at-first-sight sparks, starting Wednesday evening May 29th. Filled with a quiver packed with poetry and prose, the Bard’s amorous arrows will pierce the hearts of thousands upon thousands of audience members through June 23rd. “As You Like It”, Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy, is the perfect play for a summer’s night in Forest Park since the plot revolves around Rosalind, who escapes into the forest to find her love. The role of Rosalind is Shakespeare’s largest female role. She is often referred to as the female version of “Hamlet”.
No spoiler alerts here. Just round up your lawn chairs, your friends, your picnic baskets, and your appetites for an evening under the stars with the stars – the timeless constellation of Shakespeare’s words emanating from his pen, to the page, to the stage. On any given night there may be as many as 6,000 people dotting the lawn of Shakespeare’s Glen at Forest Park near the St. Louis Art Museum. According to Producing Artistic Director Tom Ridgley, “ People don’t know this, but the audiences for Shakespeare in the Park in St. Louis are the largest for Shakespeare plays anywhere in the world, because they are so open and so accessible. On a beautiful night in June, we can have five or six thousand people out there glen. And that’s not happening anywhere.” He went on to say that “St. Louis has always been a Shakespeare town.”
The new production will feature live music with new songs penned by St. Louis indie singer-songwriter Beth Bombara. Directed by the esteemed Nancy Bell, this enchanting production promises to captivate audiences with its romantic whimsy, lively music, and lush Gilded Age setting.
Performances take place Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. Admission to Shakespeare in the Park is free, with no reservations required. A limited number of paid reserved seats and blanket spots are available for purchase starting ($20-$300). Guests can reserve single chairs and premium box seating with chairs or space on the lawn in the blanket-only section. For more information of to get tickets, click here.
The Cast
Leading the cast is New York City-based and St. Louis native (Nerinx Hall, Webster University graduate) Caroline Amos in the role of the spirited and resourceful Rosalind, Christian Thompson as Orlando, Jasmine Cheri Rush as Celia and Ricki Franklin as Touchstone - both previously seen on the Festival stage in the 2023 production of Twelfth Night. Wali Jamal (of Philadelphia) will make his Festival debut as Jaques, along with St. Louis native Greg Cueller as Oliver.
The cast boasts more native St. Louisans and local cast members than in previous seasons, under the direction of local director Nancy Bell. This is an extraordinary company, made all the more special by its many ties to St. Louis," said “Tom Ridgely, Producing Artistic Director. "We're so proud to showcase so much of our incredible local talent, and thrilled to welcome back so many homegrown stars.”
Other local standouts are Molly Wennstrom, Kathryn Bentley, CB Brown, Michelle Hand, Isaiah Henry, Joneal Joplin, Joel Moses, and Bianca Sanborn, each bringing their unique flair to the iconic characters of Shakespeare's comedy. Pro wrestler Lenny Mephisto of the Metro-East will make his theatrical stage debut as Charles es as will Beth Bomabara as Aimens.
Caroline Amos* (Rosalind) is making a childhood dream come true, returning to St. Louis to play Rosalind in the Park. She’s a proud graduate of Nerinx Hall and Webster’s Conservatory and is no stranger to St. Louis Shakespeare Festival.
Caroline Amos* (Rosalind).
Christian Thompson* (Orlando) is thrilled to be making his St. Louis Shakespeare Festival debut. A mixed race, multi-hyphenated artist from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He has appeared on Broadway: Wicked (Fiyero), Thoughts Of A Colored Man (Passion), Ain’t Too Proud (Smokey Robinson/Damon Harris).
Christian Thompson* (Orlando).
Ricki Franklin (Touchstone) is returning to the Shakespeare Festival mainstage after her award-winning run as Dame Toby in last year's production of Twelfth Night. She has been seen previously as Kathryn in the premiere of See You in a Minute with Contraband Theater. She has also been seen in the Shakespeare Festival tours of Othello (Emilia) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius/Bottom). A St Louis, Missouri, native trained at Baylor University.
Ricki Franklin (Touchstone).
Wali Jamal* (Jaques) is a visiting artist from Pittsburgh. He has been performing on stage for the last four decades. Wali has the single distinction of being the only actor in the world to have performed in all ten plays in August Wilson's American Century Cycle PLUS his one-man play How I Learned What I Learned, for which Wali was named the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Performer of the Year.
Wali Jamal* (Jaques).
Jasmine Cheri Rush (Celia) is back with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival where she played Olivia in last year's production of Twelfth Night. Most recently, Jasmine was seen as Medea in the Exodus Ensemble's adaptation of the Greek tragedy.
Jasmine Cheri Rush (Celia).
Greg Cuellar [kway-yar] (Oliver) a St. Louis native, making his Festival debut. NYC credits: Comedy of Errors (Classic Stage), I Wanna F*ck Like Romeo & Juliet (New Light - '24 LAMBDA Nominee), Play On! Shakespeare Festival (Oregon Shakespeare), and It’s Only a Play opposite Broadway legends Kristine Nielsen.
Greg Cuellar [kway-yar] (Oliver).
About St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival strives to foster community and joy across the St. Louis region through the Shakespearean tradition of art for all. Since 2001, the Festival has grown from producing a single production of Shakespeare in Forest Park to a year-round season of impactful programming in exciting and accessible venues throughout the bi-state area. Artistic and education programs reach over 50,000 patrons and students each season. Their award-winning work has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News.
