A return of Equity contracts in 2004-05 already translates to good casting news for Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival:

Bruce Cromer and Amy Warner have signed to play George and Martha in Edward Albee's American classic Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Both are making their Festival debut.

One of the best performers in the region, Cromer is a winner of the Enquirer Theatre Award for best leading actor for the title role in Macbeth at Human Race in Dayton. He also starred in Blue/Orange and Underneath the Lintel at Ensemble Theatre and is beloved by audiences as Bob Cratchit in Playhouse in the Park's annual A Christmas Carol.

Warner made her Cincinnati debut two years ago in The Guys and is also a Carol regular.

Woolf will also feature company members Nick Rose and Corinne Mohlenhoff as Nick and Honey.

Michael Shooner, artistic director of New Edgecliff Theatre, whose many memorable roles include The Woolgatherer and Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll, will return to the Festival (where he has provided strong support in Romeo and Juliet and The Weir) to star as Joe Keller in All My Sons.

Jackie Demaline