One of Sweden's leading theater companies, Teater Västmanland has existed in various incarnations since 1967, when it became the first ensemble of the national theater organization Riksteatern to be permanently situated outside of Stockholm.Their new English-language production of Immo + Leo, written by Lucas Svensson, translated by Kjersti Board, and inspired by Shakespeare's romantic comedy, Cymbeline, was a critical success and received rave reviews in Sweden.Lucas Svensson is one of Sweden's most promising young playwrights. His play Fallen from the Sky was announced one of the best productions of the Royal Dramatic Theatre in 2002.Immo + Leo is directed by Tereza Anderson, a graduate of Gothenburg University and Dramatiska Institutet, and the tour is produced by Flord Gillström. The play is performed in English by an all-Swedish cast, featuring Svante Thunberg as Leo, Pernilla Göst as Immo, and Magnus Bergquist, the company's director general, as King Cymbeline Svensson.Teater Västmanland's performance in Troy marks NYSTI's first exchange with Sweden. In turn, NYSTI is scheduled to bring its production of Born Yesterday to Sweden in 2005. The guest performance by Teater Västmanland and the ongoing exchange between the two theater companies has been facilitated and supported by the Consulate General of Sweden in New York. Immo + LeoA production by Teater Västmanlandpresented by New York State Theatre InstituteSchacht Fine Arts CenterRussell Sage CollegeTroy, NYMay 20-26, 2004For tickets and program information, call (518) 274 3256 or visit www.nysti.org For more information about Teater Västmanland (in Swedish), visit www.teatervastmanland.sePhoto: © Lars Fredriksson