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American Shakespeare Center to perform shows unseen in 100+ years

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american shakespeare centerFOMO, or, “Fear of Missing Out,” will reach a new high with audiences this winter at the American Shakespeare Center.

Every year since 2005, ASC veteran actors have raised the stakes during a period called the “Actors’ Renaissance Season.”  Popularly known as the “Ren Season,” the winter fare is an intense period of performance with an ASC-worthy twist: taking Shakespeare’s staging conditions one step further by re-creating his rehearsal conditions.

No outside directors, designers
This means that throughout the Ren Season: 12 veteran actors direct themselves, costume themselves, and sometimes use only cue scripts while rehearsing a show for only 48-60 hours. The results are fast-paced, on-your-feet urgency and rawness typical of Shakespeare’s work. Actors must make all decisions.

These demanding rehearsal techniques are also applied to non-Shakespeare work during the Ren Season. The artistic results are exciting, unpredictable, and intensely creative. Veteran actors, committed fans, and scholars have braved harsh winter weather to see what happens live on stage. This year’s mild weather should attract even bigger audiences.

Shakespeare, friends, and foes
This year, the Ren Season will produce five shows using Shakespeare’s demanding rehearsal conditions. Two plays are by Shakespeare (The Tempest and Measure for Measure). Three are by other playwrights. The season opens with The Tempest because it prompted a contemporary to write The Sea Voyage, another show that will be staged during this season.

Rarely seen work
The Sea Voyage is already garnering attention for the Ren Season because the ASC can find no record of a previous professional production in America. The play, written by John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, was last known to grace a stage, as an adaptation called The Commonwealth of Women, in London in 1710!

Producing work inspired by Shakespeare using his rehearsal conventions demonstrates Shakespeare’s continued prowess and reach.

Two other Ren Season shows are by playwrights heavily influenced by Shakespeare: Thomas Middleton and William Congreve (Women Beware Women and Love for Love). These productions are particularly remarkable because, like The Sea Voyage, they are so rarely staged.

All contain universal themes and humor.

All shows include “Pay What You Will” nights to ensure everyone can afford the bawdy fun at least once this Ren Season.

Here’s what’s playing.

 

The Tempest

The Tempest was likely written for the original Blackfriars Playhouse. It is a fantastical journey with storms and shipwrecks. The play covers everything from supernatural beings and magical island spirits, to themes of colonialism. Undeniably, there is no better or more fitting place to see this play than Virginia, a state steeped in colonial history. Producers of the PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered filmed an episode about The Tempest on the American Shakespeare Center’s stage because it is such a faithful re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre.

Shakespeare’s final solo play is a moving fairy tale, a wondrous magic show, and a farewell to the stage that still defines our humanity.

The “Pay What You Will” performances of The Tempest will be Friday, January 8, Saturday, January 9th. Ticket holders to Saturday’s 7:30 show are invited to the Opening Night Party to follow in the upstairs Cutaia lounge, and should come early to hear Artistic Director Jim Warren announce the 2016/17 Artistic Year of shows.

 

Measure for Measure

Ever been a witness in a lawsuit? Shakespeare was, and it may have influenced Measure for Measure. In Bellott v Mountjoy Shakespeare was asked to testify on his landlord’s character. (What would you say about your landlord?)

Measure for Measure asks who sins most in a congregation of murderers, pimps, politicians, whores, nuns, and nobles. The play is an electrifying exploration of the arrogance of power, and how it hovers between comedy and tragedy. It is sure to resonate with audiences, especially anyone following 2016 politics.

The “Pay What You Will” performances of Measure for Measure will be Thursday, January 14 and Friday, January 15.

 

Women Beware Women

You thought the gossip on Facebook is new? Come see Women Beware Women, a story of family betrayals, romantic infidelities, and false friendships. The ladies of a Florentine court must play to win a deliciously wicked game of lewdness and lies or else risk the loss of their lives. Middleton’s play is as provocative now as it was 400 years ago.

The “Pay What You Will” performances of Women Beware Women will be Thursday, January 28 and Friday, January 29.

The Sea Voyage

Inspired by The Tempest, Fletcher and Massinger’s homage to Shakespeare includes many of the same themes plus: French pirates, Portuguese castaways, and a society of Amazonian women together on an island. Scholars have interpreted this play to be about colonialism and anti-colonialism. Many scholars are likely to attend because this will be the first known professional production of this play in America.

The “Pay What You Will” performances of The Sea Voyage will be Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19.

 

Love for Love

Do you marry for love or money? Can you possibly have both?

William Congreve wrote a witty farce where love and money square off as two brothers attempt to follow their hearts without losing their inheritance. This satirical and sardonic look at romance is just as relevant to heartbreak and happiness today. This play is anticipated to be a Ren Season favorite because actors have free reign to be as zany and off-the-wall as they desire.

The “Pay What You Will” performances of Love for Love will be Wednesday, March 9 and Friday, March 11.

Actors’ Renaissance Season tickets for all shows are available for purchase online: (https://americanshakespearecenter.secure.force.com/ticket) Advance booking is recommended, especially for group seating. Snacks, beer, and wine are available for purchase during intermission.

“Cold weather never stops the energy or excitement around here,” says Jim Warren, co-founder of the American Shakespeare Center. “In fact, it’s just the opposite. The Ren Season stretches from January to the first week in April and this period is consistently filled with exuberance and fun. Audiences don’t need to know anything about a play to enjoy master theatre-makers doing what they do best.

The Ren Season is always thrilling, and this year’s shows will delight audiences, so come check them out,” he adds.

More information and tickets available at www.americanshakespearecenter.com.

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