In December we announced our Founders’ Theatre shows for Summer 2010. Now we are proud to announce the rest of our Summer 2010 Season, titled “Greet the Glorious Summer!” A brief note from Artistic Director Tony Simotes:
It is with great humility as well as unbridled excitement that I launch my first season as Shakespeare & Company’s Artistic Director, taking over the reins from the indomitable Tina Packer. She began her mission 33 years ago, along with a merry band of theatrical revolutionaries that I was very pleased to be a part of. Our quest has been to bring the transformative power of theatre alive for our audiences through Shakespeare’s plays as well as ground-breaking new works. My mission is to build upon this priceless legacy while helping to bring us to exciting new places.
Read the rest of Tony’s Welcome Letter here, or in our 2010 Summer Season brochure—which is on its way to your mailbox now. (Or if you just can’t wait, click here to check it out online).
Check out the full Summer 2010 Season after the jump! Continue reading ‘Greet the Glorious Summer! (Full Summer Season Announced)’
Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) is written by Christopher Hampton and directed by Tina Packer. Featuring Elizabeth Aspenlieder and Josh Aaron McCabe. Costumes by Govane Lohbauer. Lighting by Stephen Ball. Scenic design by Carl Sprague. Photos by Kevin Sprague.
On stage through March 21. Buy tickets now.
Tina Packer was featured in yesterday’s New York Times. Writer Patrick Healy spent time with Tina here in Lenox discussing the origins of the Company, its current state and the transition to new Artistic Director Tony Simotes.
The change has not been easy on Ms. Packer, who built Shakespeare & Company from scratch as a young British transplant who wanted to create theater where actors would “speak the speech” of Shakespeare — in her words, focus with clarity on the meaning and intent of the language. While she takes great pride in the company’s legacy, its financial health is a continuing concern given that Shakespeare & Company — like many nonprofit theaters — has been buffeted by economic challenges.
Read the full story at nytimes.com.
Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer (now on stage as Gertrude in Hamlet) is the subject of a profile that aired today on WBUR (Boston’s NPR station). Andrea Shea speaks with Tina about her roots in England, her intentions for starting Shakespeare & Company and her future plans. Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Company actress Elizabeth Aspenlieder also speak about Tina and her impact.
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Listen to the story above, or check out the story at WBUR.org.
At the time she was obsessed with Shakespeare, but she wanted to approach his texts her own way. This ran against the genteel delivery style most teachers and directors embraced.
“Enunciating, pushing the vowels to the front of the mouth — especially for the women,” Packer says. “It’s all nonsense; Shakespeare’s dirty as hell and full of life and full of vivacity.”
So Packer abandoned her career as an actor in England, raised some money in the U.S., and founded her own company in the Berkshires. She was one of the first women to direct Shakespeare professionally. Packer says it’s a natural fit.
WAMC’s Clarence Fanto speaks with Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, Artistic Director Tony Simotes, and Company member (and actress in Golda’s Balcony, now on stage) Annette Miller about Othello, Golda’s Balcony, Pinter’s Mirror and much more in this interview that aired Monday. Check it out at WAMC’s website, or listen below.
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The reviews are in for Tina Packer’s performance in Shirley Valentine—which plays just twice more this weekend (this afternoon and Sunday) and once more in September. You don’t want to miss it…but don’t take our word for it:
On every level Tina Packer…is Shirley Valentine. That was made abundantly clear last night in a stunning performance that earned a standing ovation. A slam dunk, total knockout. Wow.”
(Read the complete review at Berkshirefinearts.com)
One of the most charming and touching Shirley Valentines to grace a stage is Shakespeare & Company’s enormously talented and ever youthful Tina Packer.”
(Read the complete review at CurtainUp.com)
Shirley Valentine is part of the Diva Series, limited runs of three special solo performances. Get tickets now.
Shirley Valentine is the irrepressible woman-next-door who escapes a world of stagnancy and discovers independence during one fateful holiday to Greece. Tina Packer reprises her role as Shirley for four performances only this May (and one in September) as part of the Diva Series. Written by Willy Russell, directed by Jenna Ware.
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