FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS CONTACT:
CSC Communications Manager
Nia June, 410-244-8571 x119
june@chesapeakeshakespeare.com

CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY PRESENTS

MARY STUART: A ROYAL RIVALRY

PREVIEWS APRIL 23 & 24 PRIOR TO OPENING APRIL 25

Baltimore (3.27.2025) - Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC) will conclude its Downtown Baltimore season with Mary Stuart, an enthralling portrait of two queens: one in power, one in prison. Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I, both cousins and rivals, are bound by blood but divided by power. This production – adapted by Peter Oswald from Friedrich Schiller’s 1800 masterpiece – offers audiences an intimate exploration of the fatal bond and the personal stakes behind one of history’s most infamous clash of crowns. CSC’s Mary Stuart reimagines the epic feud to focus on the women themselves – their fears, wits and schemes.

Mary Stuart will preview April 23 and 24 prior to its official opening night on April 25 at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (7 S. Calvert St.). The production runs through May 18. Visit www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com for more information.

“You might think you know the story of Mary, Queen of Scots and her struggle for the throne of England with Elizabeth I, but in Peter Oswald’s brilliant adaptation, it all acquires new meaning.” Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star.

First staged in London in 2005, Oswald’s approach to the classic is a bold mix of poetry and prose that breathes fresh urgency into a centuries-old struggle. Dawn McAndrews, director, notes “Mary’s life was full of drama. Crowned at six days old and executed at age 44, Mary had a complex reign and then spent 20 years under house arrest. But there is one scene history never gave her, a face-to-face meeting with her cousin and rival for the English throne, Queen Elizabeth I. Here, theatre provides.”

CSC’s staging is elevated by a commanding cast of both new and returning talent and supported by a design team committed to authentic presentation. From elaborate Elizabethan costumes that reflect the era’s craftsmanship to expertly curated music, the production immerses its audience in a vivid reality that moves with the tension of a historical thriller.

Among those making a return is Lise Bruneau, this time on stage as Mary Stuart; opposite her, Lesley Malin, CSC’s Producing Executive Director, steps into the role of Elizabeth I.

“In classical theatre, women's narratives are often placed to the side, so Mary Stuart provides a powerful and rare opportunity for CSC to showcase women's stories, illuminating the complex lives and political struggles of two iconic female leaders. This riveting play stands out by focusing on female experiences, providing a unique and exciting perspective in the theatrical canon.” notes Malin.

Through the work of Schiller – often called the “German Shakespeare” – CSC deepens its exploration of Shakespeare, who rarely crafted a play centered on the lives of women. Mary Stuart exists in that imaginative space, offering a drama that bridges the gap between Shakespeare’s influence and the untold stories left behind.
Mary Stuart will open April 25 with previews on April 23 and 24. The production will close on May 18. Visit www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com for more information or call the box office at 410-244-8570.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

Mary Stuart
By Friedrich Schiller, Adapted by Peter Oswald
Directed by Dawn McAndrews

LOCATION
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is located at 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, two blocks north of the Inner Harbor. Parking is available for the discounted rate of $5 at the Arrow Parking covered lot on 204 East Lombard Street. The theatre is also accessible using the FREE Charm City Circulator and is located on the Purple Route. For more detailed information about directions, parking, and public transportation, click here.

TICKETS
Adult tickets start at $59, tickets for youth 25 and under start at $31, and preview tickets are $25. To purchase tickets, visit ChesapeakeShakespeare.com, or contact the Box Office directly by calling 410-244-8570 or visiting in person at 7 South Calvert Street. Discounts are available for groups of ten or more and active-duty military. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/marystuart

DATES
Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00 PM - Preview
Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 PM - Preview
Friday, April 25 at 8:00 PM – Opening/Press Night
Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 PM
Friday, May 2 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 3 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 4 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 PM
Friday, May 9 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 PM
Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 PM
Sunday, May 11 at 2:00 PM
Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 PM
Friday, May 16 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, May 17 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, May 18 at 8:00 PM

CAST LIST
Queen Elizabeth I - Lesley Malin *
Mary Stuart - Lise Bruneau +
Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester - DeJeanette Horne*
George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury - Gregory Burgess *
William Cecil, Lord Burleigh - Michael P. Sullivan *
William Davison - Isaiah Mason Harvey *•
Amias Paulet - Steven Todd Smith
Mortimer - Joshua Williams *
Count Aubespine - Lloyd Marcus *•
Count Bellievre - Kaitlyn Fowler
O’Kelly/Lord Kent - Nicolas Dureaux Picou
Drugeon Drury/Sherif - Michael Changwe
Melvil - Paul Diem
Hannah Kennedy - Jamie Virostko

Understudies - Adrian Bagarić, Chris Rio Liu, Laura Malkus*, Nicolas Dureaux Picou, Nathan Rosen

CREATIVE TEAM
Dawn McAndrews - Director
Lauren Engler* - Production Manager
Caroline Johnson - Production Stage Manager
Dan O’Brien* - Technical Director/Set & Projection Designer
Dean Leong - Lighting Designer
Kristina Lambdin* - Costume Designer
Grace Srinivasan* - Music Director
Paige Stone - Props Artisan
Dawn Thomas Reidy *• - Production Associate
Dan O’Brien* -Technical Director
Sarah O’Halloran* - Sound Designer
Lorraine Ressegger–Slone - Fight & Intimacy Director
Abraham Stoll - Dramaturg/Text/Vocal Coach
Mary Ann Jung - Style Coach
Gerrad Alex Taylor *• - Dialect Coach
Hannah Brill - Hair/Wig Designer
Tyrel Brown *• - Assistant Stage Manager
Chester Stacy * - Assistant Technical Director
Hannah Brill - Wardrobe Supervisor
Kai Singleton - Board Op
Preaundrea Franklin - Production Intern

* Notes a CSC Company Member
• Notes a CSC Black Classical Acting Ensemble Member
+ Notes Actors’ Equity Association Member

ABOUT CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Founded in 2002 Chesapeake Shakespeare Company brings great classic theatre to Baltimore, Howard County, the state of Maryland, and beyond. The company offers performances of Shakespeare and other plays of classic stature that are unforgettable, challenging, and innovative. In 2012, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company acquired the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company building in downtown Baltimore, renovating it into a modern Globe Theater for indoor performances, while continuing to produce outdoor Shakespeare every summer at the PFI Historic Park in Howard County. The organization regularly serves 30,000+ people annually through artistic projects and intentional community engagement. CSC’s vibrant education program includes an extensive matinee series, camps, classes, and in and out-of-school residencies. The company invites patrons, students, and neighbors to become part of the creative collaboration that generates powerful, magical theatre and a more purposeful, engaged, and connected community.