Sam Mendes to direct a transatlantic company of actors for a 2nd season of The Bridge Project

Sam Mendes will again direct a transatlantic company of actors for the second season of The Bridge Project, a three-year series of co-productions by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The Old Vic, and Neal Street Productions devoted to producing large-scale, classical theater for international audiences.

As You Like It and The Tempest will play in repertoire at the BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn New York from Jan � Mar 2010. They will then embark on an international tour visiting Asia and Europe before arriving at London's Old Vic Theatre where they will play from Jun to Aug 2010.

The full company will again be drawn from leading American and British actors, including Stephen Dillane as 'Prospero' in The Tempest and 'Jaques' in As You Like It, joined by Anne-Marie Duff as 'Ariel' and 'Rosalind,' with Christian Camargo as 'Stephano' and 'Orlando,' and Juliet Rylance as 'Miranda' and 'Celia.' Further casting to be announced shortly

Public booking opens Autumn 2009.

It is designed by Tom Piper, lighting by Paul Pyant, costumes by Catherine Zuber, sound by Simon Baker, choreography by Josh Prince.

Commenting on the 2010 double-bill, Sam Mendes says: �Stephen Dillane and I began a conversation about his playing Prospero in The Tempest when I first conceived The Bridge Project back in 2007 and I�m delighted to be finally bringing those plans to fruition. I�m equally thrilled to be welcoming Anne-Marie Duff, one of the finest actors of her generation, playing Rosalind in As You Like It. Complemented by Christian Camargo and Juliet Rylance � two actors I have also followed, admired and hoped to collaborate with�it all adds to my excitement about forming The Bridge Project�s second company, and building on the wonderful experience of our first year.�

Stephen Dillane's stage credits include "Drunk Enough To Say I Love You??" at the Royal Court in 2006; Tom Stoppard's trilogy "The Coast of Utopia" at the Olivier, NT in 2002; "Life After George" at the Duchess un 2002; "The Real Thing" at the Donmar Warehouse, West End and Broadway in 1999/2000; "Uncle Vanya" directed by Katie Mitchell for the RSC at the Young Vic in 1998; "Endgame" at the Donmar Warehouse in 1996; "Hamlet" directed by Peter Hall at the Gielgud in 1994.

Anne-Marie Duff's London stage credits include "Soldier's Fortune" at the Young Vic in 2007; "Days of Wine and Roses" at the Donmar in 2005; "The Daughter-in-Law" at the Young Vic in 2002; "A Doll's House" at the New Ambassadors in 2000; "Collected Stories" at the Haymarket in 1999; "Vassa" at the Albery in 1999; "King Lear" at the Cottesloe, NT in 1997; "War and Peace" at the Cottesloe, NT in 1996; "La Grande Magia" at the Lyttelton, NT in 1995. Her recent TV credits include playing Fiona Gallagher in "Shameless" and playing Queen Elizabeth I in the TV mini "The Virgin Queen".