PCS Theater Presents The Winter’s Tale on the Second Stage
Shakespeare’s timeless story of love, loss, forgiveness, and hope comes to life in a bold new adaptation by director Arlowe Willingham
SWARTHMORE, PA – PCS Theater invites audiences to experience one of William Shakespeare’s most moving and magical works as The Winter’s Tale, adapted and directed by Arlowe Willingham, takes the Raymond W. Smith Second Stage August 21 through August 30.
Blending heartbreaking tragedy with joyful comedy, The Winter’s Tale follows King Leontes, whose consuming jealousy shatters his family and kingdom. Spanning two countries and twenty years, Shakespeare’s sweeping romance journeys from devastating loss to unexpected reunion in a story filled with mistaken judgments, unlikely hope, enduring love, and the possibility of redemption.
This fresh adaptation embraces the emotional complexity of Shakespeare’s original while making the story immediate and deeply resonant for modern audiences.
“When I reread The Winter’s Tale to prepare for this production, I was struck by how Shakespeare’s 400-year-old emotional whiplash is just as intense as it is familiar,” says director Arlowe Willingham. “This play reminds me that we have all been trying to reconcile our various joys and griefs together for as long as we’ve felt all of them.”
Willingham continues, “I hope this production is a place where audiences are welcome to feel everything at once and find comfort in this fantastical, sweeping tale of love, loss, and everything in between. The Winter’s Tale asks whether time can heal. I don’t know the answer, but I hope our mistakes, flaws, and harms can, like Leontes, be met with truth, grace, and even second chances.”
Adding another unique dimension to the production is an original musical score performed by Weird Blip, featuring:
- John B. Hedges (keyboard, shruti box, vocals)
- Alana Hoskins (percussion, vocals)
- Melissa Santangelo (harp, percussion, recorder, vocals)
- AJ Rose Wallihan (percussion)
- Arlowe Willingham (flute, oboe, vocals)
- Kat Wilson (vocals)
The story unfolds in the Kingdom of Sicilia before leaping twenty years into the future in Bohemia, creating an epic theatrical experience that blends royal drama, pastoral celebration, music, and Shakespeare’s unforgettable poetry.
Cast
- Hermione – Britt Fauzer*
- Leontes – Thomas-Robert Irvin
- Polixenes – David Nibert*
- Camillo – Kevin McPeak
- Mamillius – Ivy Jackson*
- Antigonus / Time – Cathy Gibbons Mostek
- Paulina – Susan Bolt
- Dion / Mariner – Ryan Mattox
- Cleomenes / Bear / Dorcas – Melissa Santangelo
- Shepherd / Doctor – Dani Kennedy
- Clown / Guard – Kat Wilson
- Autolycus / Lord – Alana Hoskins*
- Florizel / Lord – X Bradley*
- Perdita / Emilia – Kira McFadden*
*Denotes PCS Theater debut.
Performance Information
Dates: August 21–30
Venue: Raymond W. Smith Second Stage at PCS Theater
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one intermission.
Content Advisory: This production contains depictions of misogyny, paranoia, violent delusions, and suggestive themes. Viewer discretion is advised.
Please note that the Raymond W. Smith Second Stage is accessible by stairs only.
PCS Theater is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment. We encourage audiences of all backgrounds to experience this exciting new interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved late romances.
PCS Theater is committed to making live theatre accessible to everyone. As a proud member of the Art-Reach ACCESS Program, PCS offers $2 admission for eligible ACCESS cardholders and their guests, helping to ensure that cost is never a barrier to experiencing the arts. In addition, PCS Theater has recently launched AirCaps Smart Glasses, an innovative live-captioning technology available for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. A limited number of smart glasses may be borrowed through the box office and display real-time captions directly within the lenses throughout the performance, providing a more accessible and immersive theatrical experience. Patrons interested in utilizing AirCaps Smart Glasses are encouraged to contact the box office in advance to reserve a pair, as availability is limited.