Comedy of Errors is finally here. Simon Godwin's joyous production wraps the Bard's silliest scenario (TWO sets of twins? Really?) with vivid Mediterranean colors and enough charming original songs to keep you humming all the way home. Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice) and David Fynn (School of Rock) are Dromio and Dromio (respectively), surrounded by a hilarious—and musical—cast in STC’s long-awaited season opener.

Act fast: Comedy of Errors is now extended through Oct 13, and some performances are already sold out.

Rehearsals for Babbitt are going strong and the cast is killing it. Babbitt premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in California last year and many cast members, including Matthew Broderick and Ann Harada (Avenue Q), have joined STC for the East Coast premiere. 

Ann shared her insights as a returning cast member, including how she approaches restaging scenes, comedy ninjas, and more.

STC: Can you share a little bit about what makes the structure of Babbitt unique and interesting to you as an actor?

AH: I love the conceit of the opening structure of the play. We are readers in a library, which to me is the most American of public institutions. We are a diverse group of actors, and as we take on various roles in the story, it frees us from having to stick to a strict historical context in terms of casting.

STC: You’re one of the original cast members from the La Jolla production of Babbitt. How different is this production since its premiere in California?

AH: The script has changed somewhat and so we are restaging several sequences. I have to approach it as a new piece because remembering the old way just gets me in trouble. I do think the narrative is much clearer and the story just flies.

STC: Are there any differences in the process for you, being familiar with the show already?

AH: I have had Myra Babbitt in my head for a year now, and have had plenty of time to reread the novel and see if there were new clues to her character that I had missed from before. I find myself much more passionate about Myra’s story arc, knowing how sympathetically the La Jolla audience responded to her.

STC: In what ways might the production be received differently in a city like Washington, D.C., versus San Diego?

AH: I think we are all looking forward to seeing if there is any significant difference between the way the two cities respond to the play. I felt that in La Jolla, the audiences really responded to the humor (and in turn, we were surprised by how funny the play was). We believe the D.C. audiences will be especially tuned into the political and satirical aspects of the story while also enjoying seeing Matthew up close and in person. I’ve always thought he was a comedy ninja: capable of mining humor out of any situation and able to connect with audiences immediately. People instinctively love him because they’ve been watching him for so many years, so they’re extremely sympathetic to George F. Babbitt’s story.

STC: You’re well-known for your role in Avenue Q, and you’ve worked a few times now with Matthew Broderick – what character in that show would Matthew most likely be?

AH: Matthew Broderick is far too sophisticated and mature to play any character in Avenue Q, but if you’re asking me which character he is most like in real life, I would say he is a cross between Nicky and Trekkie. He can be very messy and also very profane…in the most charming and professional way, of course. I suppose Matthew COULD do a cameo as Mrs. Thistletwat, since he is both a crabby old bitch and the backbone of this nation! 

Babbitt starts Oct 1 at Harman Hall. Don't miss this satirical masterpiece.

One Night Only. Join us Tuesday, October 15, 7:30pm at the Klein Theatre to celebrate the publication of Shakespeare in the Theatre: Shakespeare Theatre Company, co-authored by STC’s Artistic Producer Drew Lichtenberg and Deborah C. Payne, Professor of Literature at American University and former Research Consultant for STC. 

Join the authors in conversation about the company’s storied history with STC’s current and former Artistic Directors Simon Godwin and Michael Kahn, moderated by the New York Times’s Maureen Dowd.

Tickets $25. On Sale Friday, September 13.

Slide Show: Alex Brightman and David Fynn; Shayvawn Webster and Cloteal L. Horne; and the cast of Comedy of Errors. Photos by Teresa Castracane Photography.

Ann Harada headshots; Matthew Broderick and Ann Harada in La Jolla Playhouse's world-premiere production of Babbitt. Photo by Jenna Selby.

The cast of King Lear (2009). Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Alex Brightman and Christian Thompson in Comedy of Errors. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.