The 2009-2010 season begins Thursday Sept. 10th with Measure for Measure, to be performed at the Long Center Rollins' Theatre, with direction by Ann Ciccolella and associate director Michael Costello. The production will run through Sept. 27th and star Matt Radford as the Duke.

Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella transports Shakespeare's darkest comedy (and notorious "problem play") to the American South of the 1920's in a Ragtime world of decadence. The Duke has become so so disinterested in law enforcement that sexual behavior has run amuck. Recognizing this, he decides to leave cleaning up the licentious society to his evangelical deputy, Angelo. He pretends to leave town, but secretly disguises himself as a friar to observe the proceedings. Angelo threatens to close down the red light district, exemplified by Mistress Overdone and the notorious pimp, Pompey.

Angelo's harshness shocks everyone. When young Claudio is arrested for getting his fiancée Juliet pregnant (under a law that had not been enforced in years), Angelo condemns him to the death sentence. Isabella, a novice nun, pleads with Angelo to save her brother's life. Her character and beauty shockingly transform Angelo -- he agrees to pardon Claudio if she will yield her virginity. Isabella violently rejects his proposition -- her chastity and honor are her highest values. She relates her tale to Claudio, thinking he will whole-heartedly agree, but he confounds her expectation, thinking it reasonable to trade his sister's virtue for his own life.

Lighting design will be provided by Jason Amato, costume design by Kim Ngo, and original music by Michael McKelvey.