mean?
Each little red star is a clickable link to additional information on whatever listing it appears beside. It might be a link to an article in a local newspaper, or it might be a press release the company has sent me.
Shakespeare & Company Announces Mainstage Shows
Posted by Gail M. Burns - December 2009
“Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer…” Richard III
Shakespeare & Company announces
2010-2011 Mainstage shows
chock full of Big Fun and Big Savings!
{Lenox, MA}— Three exciting productions—one of Shakespeare’s most popular and riveting tragedies, his thoroughly enchanting tale of transformation and renewal, and a brand new play by a noted local playwright—will light up Founders’ Theatre’s tenth anniversary and another season of excellence at Shakespeare & Company. Artistic Director and Founder Tony Simotes today announces S&Co.’s Mainstage shows for the 2010-2011 season (S&Co.’s 33rd), plus the season’s Lunchbox Shakespeare selection. Richard III, The Winter’s Tale, and the world premiere of The Taster by popular and much-loved Berkshire playwright Joan Ackerman compose the Mainstage offerings; in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, Lunchbox Shakespeare returns to the boards with a lively production of The Comedy of Errors, presented by S&Co.’s lauded professional actor training program and its youthful and exuberant students.
SAVE BIG NOW and purchase our smoking hot “3 for 33” Package! In celebration of our 33rd season, get all three Founders’ shows for just $99. The “3 for 33” Package makes a GREAT GIFT IDEA all year long. Purchase your “3 for 33” by February 19th and get a BONUS ticket to The Comedy of Errors in the Bernstein. Contact the Box Office at (413) 637-3353 or boxoffice@shakespeare.org for details or to order your “3 for 33” Package today! Please note the “3 for 33” Package is available for a limited time only.
Tickets for the 2010-2011 season range from $12 to $60, with multiple discounts available for Groups, Students, Seniors, Teachers and Military as well as our very popular 40% Off Berkshire County Resident Discount. Both Founders’ and Bernstein theatres are wheelchair accessible and hearing-aid assisted. To learn more about the season, discount availability, to order tickets or request a season brochure, visit www.shakespeare.org. For Group information and details contact David Joseph, Sales Director at (413) 637-1199 ext. 132 or GroupSales@shakespeare.org.
The Tragedy of King Richard III, one of Shakespeare’s best-known studies of unbridled ambition and misused power, is directed by Simotes and kicks off the Founders’ season July 2. It features OBIE Award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson in the title role, with longtime S&Co. favorite Tod Randolph as Queen Elizabeth. This is Simotes’ first Shakespeare production as Artistic Director, following his runaway hits Othello (’08, ’09) and The Hound of the Baskervilles this fall. The Winter’s Tale, Shakespeare’s story of enchantment, mystery, hilarity and heartbreak joins in repertory on July 15. The Winter’s Tale has long beguiled audiences with its story of miraculous transformation and the enduring strength of family ties. It is directed by S&Co. Education Director and Founder Kevin G. Coleman (The Ladies Man, Rough Crossing) with Elizabeth Aspenlieder playing Hermione alongside an all-star cast to be announced.
The Taster, a poignant and darkly funny play by Ackerman, makes its world premiere in Founders’ under the direction of Tina Packer, Founding Artistic Director, with performances beginning July 28th. Packer directed the successful world premiere of Ackerman’s Ice Glen in 2005. OBIE Award-winning actor Rocco Sisto and S&Co. newcomer Maureen O’Flynn are featured in The Taster, a bittersweet and delectable play that follows the trials and tribulations of the King’s master taster. Back by popular demand is the Bernstein Theatres Lunchbox Shakespeare which begins July 3 with The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare’s mad cap’d adventure of mistaken identity, merriment and mayhem. This lively production is directed by S&Co. Director of Training and Founder Dennis Krausnick and features the participants in S&Co.’s prestigious Performance Internship Program.
Meanwhile, our 2009-2010 season is still in full swing at S&Co. with Cindy Bella (or the Glass Slipper) gearing up for another weekend of hilarity at Founders’ while the cast of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) heats things up down in the Bernstein rehearsal rooms in preparation for its two-month run beginning January 29 and continuing through March 21, 2010. STAY TUNED for Shakespeare & Company’s complete line up of summer, fall and winter shows, which will be announced in the New Year along with the full schedule, special events, guest artists, parties and more!
At A Glance
Richard III
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Artistic Director Tony Simotes
Cast includes John Douglas Thompson (Richard) and Tod Randolph (Elizabeth)
Founder’s Theatre: July 2—September 5
“Since I cannot prove a lover…I am determined to prove a villain.”
At what price glory? One of Shakespeare’s most popular plays ever since its debut, Richard III is the story of a man who will do anything to become king—and the ruthless ambition that inevitably undoes him. This production, sure to be one of the most eagerly anticipated of the year, reunites award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson (as Richard) with S&Co. Artistic Director Tony Simotes, who directed Thompson in the 2008/2009 production of Othello that proved one of S&Co.’s most critically acclaimed box office hits ever. Thompson is joined by longtime S&Co. favorite Tod Randolph (Queen Elizabeth), last seen onstage here in Enchanted April, the surprising smash of 2006.
The Winter’s Tale
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Director of Education Kevin G. Coleman
Cast: Elizabeth Aspenlieder (Hermione), other cast members TBA
Founder’s Theatre: July 15—September 6
“If this be magic, let it be an art”
By turns enchanting and mysterious, hilarious and heartbreaking, Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale has long beguiled audiences with its story of miraculous transformation and the enduring strength of family ties. Not quite a comedy, not a tragedy, this startling and original play is one hundred percent Shakespeare. It portrays a jealous king who pushes away those he loves—sending them on odysseys of self-renewal—only to finally reunite with his family through what may be the most startling coup de theatre in the canon. This production marks S&Co. Director of Education and Founder Kevin G. Coleman’s debut directing Shakespeare on the main stage, following his outrageous hits The Ladies Man (2008) and Rough Crossing (2009). All-star cast to be announced.
The Taster
By Joan Ackerman
Directed by Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer
Cast: Rosso Sisto, Maureen Flynn
Founder’s Theatre: July 28 – September 6
The Taster, a poignant and darkly funny play by Ackerman, makes its world premiere in Founders’ under the direction of Tina Packer, Founding Artistic Director, with performances beginning July 28th. Packer directed the successful world premiere of Ackerman’s Ice Glen in 2005. Obie Award-winning actor Rocco Sisto and S&Co. newcomer Maureen O’Flynn are featured in The Taster, a poignant, funny and bittersweet play that follows the trials and tribulations of the King’s master taster.
The Comedy of Errors
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Director of Training Dennis Krausnick
Cast: Performance Internship Program participants
Founder’s Theatre: July 3 – September 4
The Comedy of Errors is one of one of Shakespeare’s earliest and most outrageous comedies of mistaken identity and follows the story of two sets of identical twins from Syracuse. Mayhem ensues when we learn the father of twin sons (both conveniently named Antipholus), bought another pair of twin boys, both coincidently named Dromio, to be their servants. But a shipwreck separates one half of each set of twins and then 33yrs later in Ephesus, a bustling shipping port in Greece, an extraordinary turn of events unfolds and the true ‘comedy of errors’ ensues. Shakespeare takes the tradition of Greek and Roman comedies, spices it with a handful of Commedia dell’Arte antics, and mixes this hilarious brew.
*Please note, titles, actors and dates subject to change.