Monthly Archive for July, 2009

Devil’s Advocate now on stage! (Photos)

Devil’s Advocate is playwright Donald Freed‘s account of Christmas Eve, 1989—during Manuel Noriega’s refuge in the Vatican embassy in Panama. The play, winner of the PEN Literary Award for Drama in 2006,  comes to Shakespeare & Company as part of an artistic exchange with the Mercury Theatre Company in Colchester, UK. This boiling poltical dialogue is now on stage at the Bernstein Theatre—for just ten performances. Check out the photos below!

Devil’s Advocate is directed by Dee Evans (MTC) and Clare Reidy (S&Co), and features (S&Co) and Ignatius Anthony (MTC). Buy tickets now.

“Twelfth Night” now on stage! (Photos)

Shakespeare’s tipsy-turvy comedy of misrule, madness and gender-bending comic fantasy is now playing in the Founders’ Theatre. Twelfth Night, or What You Will is directed by Jonathan Croy, with lighting design by Les Dickert, costumes by Govane Lohbauer and scenery by . Featuring your favorite actors from Hamlet and Othello and more.

Did you know that with our new Groundlings Tickets, you can get front-row seats to any Founders’ Theatre performance this summer for just $15? No restrictions—you can even buy ahead of time. Learn more »

Check out the photos below, and buy tickets now.

S&Co Collaborates on Discount Program

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Save $10 at your favorite Berkshire theaters!

Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Shakespeare & Company, and Williamstown Theatre Festival are excited to announce a collaborative effort to provide more affordable theater opportunities for residents of and visitors to Berkshire County.

For the 2009 summer season, the four theaters are launching a ticket stub program — “Theatre 4 Less” — to kick off the collaboration. All four theaters will offer discounted tickets to provide greater accessibility to theatre goers and to encourage patrons to attend productions at multiple venues. Patrons simply purchase a full price main stage ticket at any participating organization and retain their ticket stub. They may then turn in that ticket stub at any participating organization’s box office within two weeks of the performance date noted on the stub to receive $10 off the purchase of a full-price main stage ticket at that participating organization. That second stub may then be used within two weeks of its performance date to receive $10 off the purchase of yet another full-price main stage ticket at another participating theatre. The offer is valid for all main stage events at the four theaters, with the exception of one-time special events. Tickets may be purchased over the phone or in-person at each theater’s box office.

The “Theatre 4 Less” ticket stub discount program is just the first initiative of the collaboration, with plans for future initiatives already underway. The group intends to not only provide increased opportunities for patrons to see theater at an affordable price, but to work together to create greater visibility for the outstanding theater produced here in the Berkshires.

Othello “even better now”

Othello, Shakespeare & Company’s critically-acclaimed hit of last summer has received great praise for its second run in Founders’ Theatre. Berkshire Living calls it “an extraordinary production, not to be missed,” and goes on to say “I saw this Othello last summer and thought it was excellent; I think it’s even better now.”

praises John Douglas Thompson (who won the OBIE Award for his performance of the role at Theatre For A New Audience this Spring): he “takes command of the scenes both physically and vocally. His sense of honor in winning the hand of Desdemona…his early disbelief of her infidelity…and his eventual loss of reason…this is a powerful performance.

Check out the photos of the production, including new cast members Duane Allen Robinson as Cassio, Caley Milliken as Bianca, Ken Cheeseman as Brabantio and Robert Biggs as Lodovico).

“Measure for Measure” now on stage! (Photos)

Now in previews, Measure for Measure is Shakespeare’s thinly veiled comedy about hypocrisy, corruption and sex for trade in high places—a story as contemporary as today’s spicy tabloid news. Directed by Dave Demke, performed by actors in our Performance Intern Program. Scenic design by Kiki Smith, lighting design by Greg Solomon. Buy tickets now. Check out the photos below!

With Measure for Measure Shakespeare & Company reinstates its popular Lunch Box Shakespeare tradition. A boxed lunch will be served (for a modest fee) in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre Lobby prior to every performance of the show (matinees throughout the week).

An Interview with John Douglas Thompson

OthelloSCO08KSRPA_56.sized.jpg , who returns to play Othello this year after winning an OBIE Award for playing the role in New York, spoke at length about his relationship to the character with Charles Giuliano of BerkshireFineArts.com. In the interview, they discuss Othello, August Wilson, and Eugene O’Neill’s The Emperor Jones (find out why).

This provides the opportunity to compare and contrast roles in Shakespeare as well as a contemporary drama. It is evident to Berkshire audiences that Thompson has the talent to be one of the most renowned actors of his generation. Othello is the most dense and complex of all of Shakespeare’s male roles and Thompson is among its most compelling contemporary interpreters.  It is a matter of time and opportunity before he emerges as a  major artist in contemporary theatre.

Join John Douglas Thompson for My Year with the Moor on July 28 as the actor discusses his experience playing Othello for an entire year—and answers your questions.

Shakespeare on WAMC (Again!)

Artistic Director joined Alan, Joe and Sarah on the last week to talk about his new job, how he got here and what he plans to do. (Othello) and (director of Pinter’s Mirror) were also on hand to chat about their projects at Shakespeare & Company this summer. Clocking in at 20 minutes, this is one of the most in-depth Roundtable interviews we’ve had. Check it out at WAMC’s website, or listen below.

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