The Cherry Orchard: Josh Hamilton joins cast

Josh Hamilton has joined the cast of the Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in the role of 'Trofimov.' Hamilton replaces Christian Carmago, who has withdrawn from the production due to a film role.

Hamilton has appeared on Broadway in 'The Coast of Utopia,' 'Proof' and 'Brighton Beach Memoirs.' Off-Broadway credits include 'Hurlyburly' (Lortel nomination), 'Gone Home,' 'Things We Want' (New Group) and 'suburbia' (LCT), 'The Cider House Rules' (Atlantic).

Hamilton joins a cast that includes John Turturro (Lopakhin), Dianne Wiest (Ranevskaya), Ken Cheeseman (Pischick), Daniel Davis (Gaev), Alvin Epstein (Fiers), Slate Holmgren (Yasha), Roberta Maxwell (Charlotta), Juliet Rylance (Varya), Michael Urie (Yepikhodov), Elisabeth Waterston (Dunyasha) and Katherine Waterston (Anya).

Directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones, The Cherry Orchard opens at the Classic Stage Company on 4 Dec 2011, following previews from 16 Nov 2011, and closing on 23 Dec 2011.

An aristocratic Russian woman and her family return to the family's estate (which includes a large and well-known The Cherry Orchard). Despite receiving warnings that the estate is about to be auctioned to pay debts, the family behaves as if their future is secure.

The creative team for The Cherry Orchard will include scenic design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Marco Piemontese, lighting design by James F. Ingalls, hair design by Paul Huntley and original music by Christian Frederickson and Ryan Rumery.

First presented in 1904 at the Moscow Art Theatre, The Cherry Orchard was Chekhov's final play, and with this new production CSC completes its Chekhov Cycle, which has included 'The Seagull' (with Wiest and Alan Cumming), 'Uncle Vanya' (with Denis O'Hare, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard) and 'Three Sisters' (with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jessica Hecht, Juliet Rylance and Peter Sarsgaard). The latter two productions were directed by Austin Pendleton.