The Theatre Department of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro announces the cast of the February production of Paul Rudnick's, “I Hate Hamlet.”

The third production of the 2003-04 ASU Theatre playbill is to be presented Feb. 18 – 21, in the Black Box Theatre of the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive.  

This comedy centers around the character Andrew Rally who takes a New York apartment once occupied by John Barrymore and wins the role of Hamlet in a Shakespeare in the Park production. Soon he begins to have cold feet and decides to back out of the role, until John Barrymore's ghost enters and takes on the task of convincing Andrew to tackle the complex role of Hamlet.

The ASU Theatre production of “I Hate Hamlet” is under the direction of Robert E. Hypes of Jacksonville, a senior theatre major. The design staff includes: Stephanie Reber of Arkadelphia, a junior theatre major, as scenic designer; Bob Simpson, department chair and professor of theatre as lighting designer; and Kelly Schaefer, assistant professor of theatre as costume and makeup designer.

The cast of actors include: Joe Hypes of Jacksonville as Andrew Rally; Kelly Stafford of Memphis as John Barrymore; Ashley Patterson of Jonesboro as Deirdre; Christen Essary of Little Rock as Lillian; Dustin Brown of Little Rock as Gary; and Brook Scalzo of Little Rock as Felicia.  Tonya Rogers of Springdale will serve as stage manager, assisted by April Brown of Jonesboro.