Performances Run July 9 – August 17, 2019
“And where two raging fires meet together, They do consume the thing that feeds their fury” – Act II, Scene I
(Lenox, MA) – Shakespeare & Company presents William Shakespeare’s explosive and provocative comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, directed by veteran Shakespeare & Company actor and director, Kelly Galvin. This classic play stirs up questions about love, power, identity, and wealth, compelling us to examine the rules of our world and the roles we play inside it. For this family-friendly show, the Company offers free talkbacks with artists after every show. Performances run from July 9 – August 17 at the Dell at the Mount, 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA, 01240.
“This play has made me think a lot about laughter. We say that laughter is the best medicine, but laughter can also hurt,” said Director Kelly Galvin. “In The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare makes us laugh at the absurdity and ugliness of a superficial world, sometimes with unsettling results. It’s fascinating to see Shrew juxtaposed with two of Shakespeare’s other comedies—Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor— of which find meaning through humor in really different ways. As usual, Shakespeare finds a way to reflect our humanity back at us—it’s not always pretty, but it always rings true.”
The Taming of the Shrew cast features a mix of company newcomers in addition to familiar faces including, Zoa Archer (Gregory / the Pedant / the Haberdasher), Dara Brown (Tranio), Fiona Herter (Biondello), Daniel Light (Hortensio/Vincentio), Matthew Macca (Baptista), Jordan Mann (Gremio/Curtis), Nick Nudler (Petruchio), Devante Owens (Lucentio), Caitlin Kraft (Grumio/Widow), Kirsten Peacock (Katherina), Isabella Pelz (Bianca), and Cedar Potter (Nathaniel / the Tailor). The creative team includes Cindy Wade (Electrician/Stage Manager), Devon Drohan (Set Designer), Amie Jay (Costume Designer), Ryan Winkles (Movement Director), Gwendolyn Schwinke (Voice Coach), and Shane Burgett (Associate Technical Director).
“I’m super excited to be working on Shrew with such a talented and dedicated team,” said costume designer Amie Jay. “The costumes are an interesting mix of modern style and pop art, which leads to an amazingly bright, colorful, and fun collection of items that we will be bringing to the stage. I can’t wait to see it all come alive on stage with the additional actors and new twist!”
Tickets for The Taming of the Shrew are available online at shakespeare.org or by calling Shakespeare & Company’s box office at (413) 637-3353 and is generously sponsored by Howard and Natalie Shawn. The Mount is located at 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox, Massachusetts. The grounds open 90 minutes before each performance. Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets and a picnic; chairs are also available to rent for a fee of $2 per chair.
Additionally, Shakespeare & Company invites audiences to participate in a Free Pre-Show Talk on Tuesday, July 16th at 4pm to provide insight to the plot and characters of the play to enhance your experience. Join Director Kelly Galvin for an enlightening discussion about the creative journey of bringing the show to the outdoor stage at the Playhouse tent, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA on Saturday, July 6th at 11am at our Director’s Panel. Tickets to this panel are $10 for adults and free for students. For more information visit shakespeare.org.
The Company’s 2019 Summer Season also includes two Shakespeare productions, Twelfth Night and The Merry Wives of Windsor, and a special workshop production ofCoriolanus; plus 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Finalist The Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan, The Children by Tony nominee Lucy Kirkwood, The Pulitzer Prize-winning Topdog/Underdog by Suzan-Lori Parks, and Tony Award nominee, Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies.
AT A GLANCE:
PRODUCTION: The Taming of the Shrew
PLAYWRIGHT: William Shakespeare
DIRECTOR: Kelly Galvin
ELECTRICIAN/STAGE MANAGER: Cindy Wade
SET DESIGNER: Devon Drohan
COSTUME DESIGNER: Amie Jay
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR: Ryan Winkles
VOICE COACH: Gwendolyn Schwinke
ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Shane Burgett
CAST MEMBERS
GREGORY / THE PEDANT / THE HABERDASHER: Zoa Archer
TRANIO: Dara Brown
BIONDELLO: Fiona Herter
GRUMIO / WIDOW: Caitlin Kraft
HORTENSIO: Daniel Light
BAPTISTA: Matthew Macca
GREMIO / CURTIS: Jordan Mann
PETRUCHIO: Nick Nudler
LUCENTIO: Devante Owens
KATHERINA: Kirsten Peacock
BIANCA: Isabella Pelz
NATHANIEL / THE TAILOR: Cedar Potter
SCHEDULE
JULY
Tuesday, July 9 – 6:00 PM (Preview)
Thursday, July 11 – 6:00 PM (Opening)
Saturday, July 13 – 11:00 AM (Second Press Night)
Tuesday, July 16 – 6:00 PM
Thursday, July 18 – 6:00 PM
Saturday, July 20 – 11:00 AM
Tuesday, July 23 – 6:00 PM
Thursday, July 25 – 6:00 PM
Saturday, July 27 – 11:00 AM
Tuesday, July 30 – 6:00 PM
AUGUST
Thursday, August 1 – 6:00 PM
Saturday, August 3 – 11:00 AM
Tuesday, August 6 – 6:00 PM
Saturday, August 10 – 11:00 AM
Saturday, August 17 – 11:00 AM (Closing)
Plot Summary
Smart, passionate, and mad as hell, Kate wants nothing to do with marriage or men. But in Padua, marriage and money are the name of the game, and Kate’s younger sister Bianca is the ultimate prize. Alas for Padua’s vying bachelors, Bianca can’t marry ‘til her sister gets hitched. So when the wild renegade Petruchio arrives in Padua in search of a wife (and her dowry), he and Kate collide in a battle of wills that could change the rules of their world forever.
Rain Policy
No refunds will be issued due to weather. For productions in the Dell at the Mount, the show will be delayed. Patrons can either move their tickets to another date, or process it as a donation to Shakespeare & Company.
About William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. His works, including some collaborations, consist of about 37 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
About Kelly Galvin
Tenth season (Director, The Taming of the Shrew) S&Co Director: Love’s Labor’s Lost, The Clean House (reading), Fall Festival of Shakespeare 2008-2013, Bankside Preludes. S&Co Actor: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, The Venetian Twins, The Winter’s Tale, The Learned Ladies, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. WAM Theatre: Artistic Associate (2012-2014), The Last Wife director, Blue Stockings (reading) director, Fresh Takes inaugural curator and producer. Other Directing: Southwest Shakespeare (Photograph 51), Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (Memorial, New Play Festival), The Theatre at Woodshill (As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing), Boston University School of Theatre (The Cherry Orchard, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Duchess of Malfi, The Tall Girls). Assistant Directing & Observerships: Asolo Rep, Bedlam NYC, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Boston Center for American Performance, Huntington Theatre Company. Directing Fellowship: Asolo Repertory Theatre. Artistic Development Internship: Arena Stage. Training: MFA, Boston University. BA, Wellesley College. Kellydirecting.com.
About Amie Jay
First Season (Costume Designer, Taming of the Shrew) Quisisana Resort: Assistant Costumer (Summer); Cortland Repertory Theatre: Costume Intern (Summer); S&Co: Costume Intern (year-long), Design Assistant (Pride & Prejudice). Amie is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconson-Stevens Point with a BFA in Technical Theatre and a minor in French. She has designed for dance shows and has been a design assistant for several plays at her university. Amie has also worked for several years in costume construction for various costume shops. This is her first summer with Shakespeare & Company and is so excited to be the designer for Taming of the Shrew.
About Shakespeare & Company
Located in the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Shakespeare & Company is one of the leading Shakespeare festivals of the world. Founded in 1978, the organization attracts over 40,000 patrons annually. The Company is also home to an internationally renowned Center for Actor Training and award-winning Education Program. More information is available at www.shakespeare.org.
