Rossum and Lawrence Join Summer Season at Williamstown

The Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced the addition of two familiar names to its 2006 season. Golden Globe-nominated Phantom of the Opera film star Emmy Rossum is set to portray Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Sharon Lawrence will star as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.

Rossum can currently be seen on the big screen in Poseidon. She received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance as Christine in the movie adaptation of the musical The Phantom of the Opera. Her other feature film credits include It Had to Be You, Passionada, Songcatcher, An American Rhapsody, Nola, Mystic River and The Day After Tomorrow. Among her notable television credits is The Audrey Hepburn Story in which she played Young Audrey Hepburn. She was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus beginning at age 6 and appeared in over 20 Met productions.

Rossum joins a Romeo and Juliet cast that already included Bill Camp as Friar Laurence, Kristine Nielsen as the Nurse, Daniel Oreskes as Capulet, Paul O'Brien as Montague, Sandra Shipley as Lady Montague and Remy Auberjonois as Tybalt. This Romeo and Juliet, directed by Will Frears, is scheduled to run on WTF's Main Stage from August 2 through August 13.

Lawrence is best known for playing A.D.A. Sylvia Costas on NYPD Blue. She received three Emmy nominations for her performance in the drama. Recently Lawrence played the recurring role of Maisy Gibbons on Desperate Housewives. She has appeared on Broadway in Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof and Chicago.

Appearing with Lawrence in Anything Goes will be Malcolm Gets as Evelyn, Matt Cavenaugh as Billy Crocker, Nikki Renee Daniels as Hope, Catherine Brunell as Bonnie, Remy Auberjonois as Moonface Martin, Tom Bloom as Elijah Whitney, Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Harcourt and Paul O'Brien as Captain. Directed by WTF Artistic Director Roger Rees, the mounting will run on the Main Stage from July 5 through July 16.

More Williamstown Theatre Festival casting, including who will play Romeo opposite Rossum, is still to come.