Nicholas Heck will play Bertram, Kathleen Chalfant will play the Countess of Rossillion, and Dana Green will play Helena in the Yale Rep production of "All's Well That Ends Well."

A heroine's determination prevails
in 'All's Well That Ends Well'

One of Shakespeare's most resourceful heroines embarks on a quest across Europe to win the man she loves in "All's Well That Ends Well," which will be the final offering in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 40th anniversary season.

The play, directed by James Bundy and Mark Rucker, will be staged April 21-May 20 at the Yale Rep, corner of York and Chapel streets.

"All's Well That Ends Well" follows the efforts of Helena, the orphaned daughter of a poor physician, to win the heart of the handsome Bertram, son of the recently widowed Countess of Rossillion. When Helena uses one of her father's prescriptions to cure the languishing King of France, he grants her Bertram's hand in marriage. Appalled at the prospect of marrying so far beneath him, Bertram runs away to war, telling Helena he will marry her only if she surmounts two seemingly impossible obstacles -- a task she undertakes with determination.

Area students will be studying and attending performances of "All's Well That Ends Well" as part of the "Will Power!" program, a collaboration between the Yale Rep and the New Haven Public Schools that is designed to promote the study of Shakespeare among young people. As part of the initiative, Yale students discuss aspects of the play with the youngsters in the classroom, and teachers attend a workshop at the Yale Rep. The city students will attend student matinees at 11 a.m. May 8-12. For more information on the "Will Power!" program and student-only matinees, contact Ruth Feldman at (203) 432-8425 or rm.feldman@yale.edu.

The 21-member cast of "All's Well That Ends Well" is led by Kathleen Chalfant as the Countess of Rossillion. Chalfant, the Beinecke Fellow at the School of Drama this spring, has appeared on Broadway in "Angels in America" (earning Tony and Drama Desk nominations), "Racing Demon," "Dance with Me" and "M. Butterfly," as well as the Encores! production of "Bloomer Girl." Her Off-Broadway credits include "Talking Heads" (for which she received 2003 Obie and Outer Critics Circle Awards), "The Vagina Monologues," "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All," "Henry V" (winning a Calloway Award), "Nine Armenians" (securing a Drama Desk nomination) and "End Game" (earning an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance). She also received numerous awards, including an Obie, for her performance in "Wit," which was presented Off-Broadway and in theaters across the country, including New Haven's Long Wharf Theatre. She has also appeared in many films. She is a founding member of the Women's Project.

The cast also includes Lisa Birnbaum (Ensemble), Michael Braun (First Lord Dumain, Ensemble), Helmar Augustus Cooper (Lafew), Nick Corley (Lavatch), John Cunningham (King of France), Erin Felgar (Diana, Ensemble), Julia Gibson (Mariana, Ensemble), Christopher Grant (First Soldier, Ensemble), Dana Green (Helena), Nicholas Heck (Bertram), Ayano Kataoka (Ensemble), Brian O'Neill (Reynaldo, Ensemble), Gamal J. Palmer (Ensemble), Bryce Pinkham (Ensemble), Richard Robichaux (Parolles), Tom E. Russell (Ensemble), Dale Soules (Widow, Ensemble), Elliot Villar (Second Lord Dumain, Ensemble), Amanda Warren (Ensemble) and Walton Wilson (Duke of Florence).

Rucker, associate artist at South Coast Repertory, assumed directing responsibilities for the production, after Bundy, artistic director of the Yale Rep and dean of the School of Drama, stepped down due to heart surgery on April 4. At the Yale Rep, Bundy has directed the New England premiere of Amy Freed's "The Psychic Life of Savages" in 2003 and Lillian Groag's "The Ladies of the Camellias" in 2004. Rucker previously directed the Yale Rep's productions of "Twelfth Night," "Measure for Measure," "The Imaginary Invalid" and "Kingdom of Earth."

The Yale Rep production will feature choreography by John Carrafa, original music and arrangements by Matthew Suttor, scenic design by Zane Pihlstrom, costume design by Mike Floyd, lighting design by Matt Frey and sound design by Andrew Nagel. The creative team also includes fight director Rick Sordelet, vocal coach Beth McGuire, music director Erika Schroth, dramaturg Jeffrey Rogers and stage manager Sarah Bierenbaum.

The Yale Rep will present the following special events free of charge in conjunction with the play: "First Friday" on April 21, a pre-show presentation by members of the creative team with complimentary pizza and soft drinks courtesy of BAR; "Grad Night" on Saturday, April 22, a pre-show discussion with members of the creative team as well as complimentary beer, wine and appetizers for graduate students; "Opening Night Celebration" on Thursday, April 27, with a celebration following the performance at an area restaurant; "Talk Backs," post-show question-and-answer sessions with members of the cast following the matinee performances on Saturdays, April 29 and May 6, and Friday evening, May 5; "Senior Matinee" on Wednesday, May 3, a pre-show presentation by members of the creative team, with refreshments courtesy of Atticus Café. In addition, the show will be open-captioned on Saturday, May 6, at 2 p.m. and audio-described on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m.

"All's Well That Ends Well" will be staged Monday-Saturday at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, April 29 and May 6, 13 and 20, and on Wednesday, May 3. Tickets are $30-$50 and can be purchased online at www.yalerep.org; by phone at (203) 432-1234; and in person at the Yale Rep box office, 1120 Chapel St. (at York). Senior, student and group rates are also available.

The Yale Rep's production is part of "Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare for a New Generation," sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Funding for "Will Power!" is provided by the Educational Foundation of America, the Jane Marcher Foundation, the NewAlliance Foundation, Target Stores and the Anna Ardenghi Fitch General Charitable Purpose Trust. "Will Power! Teacher Workshop" hospitality is sponsored by Claire's Corner Copia/Basta Trattoria, with additional support from The Yale Bookstore.

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A heroine's determination prevails in 'All's Well That Ends Well'

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Tsunami Awareness Week raised funds and refocused humanitarian efforts

Campus Notes

Wangari Maathai lecture cancelled

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