MTWorks continues its acclaimed fifth season with the magical world premiere of THE FAMILY SHAKESPEARE, written by award-winning playwright and Artistic Director David Stallings and directed by founding member Antonio Miniño. THE FAMILY SHAKESPEARE will play a 3-week limited engagement at the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10001; South side of street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Performances begin Wednesday, April 13th through Saturday, April 30th .
"I acknowledge Shakespeare to be the world's greatest dramatic poet, but regret that no parent could place the uncorrected book in the hands of his daughter, and therefore I have prepared the Family Shakespeare"
--Thomas Bowdler
Henrietta has always been enraptured by the works of William Shakespeare. When she dangerously invites an innocent boy into her magical world, she discovers her family has not only censored the Bard, but also kept her from one of his most scandalous tales. Will their actions crush her imagination, make it spin out of control, or will they join her in a land of Ophelias, Calibans and Kings? Welcome to the Imaginarium of Henrietta Bowdler in 18th Century Bath.
Inspired by the complete censored works of William Shakespeare by Thomas, Jane & Harriet (Henrietta) Bowdler. Written and directed by award-winner David Stallings.
Featuring Eric C. Bailey*, Sarah Chaney* (MTWorks' The Oath), Jason Emanuel, Diánna Martin (MTWorks' The Oath), Frankie Seratch (MTWorks' Barrier Island), Peter B. Schmitz*, Corey Tazmania* (NJ Rep's The Housewives of Mannheim) and Cotton Wright* (Flux Theatre Ensemble's Pretty Theft & Angel Eaters).
Produced by Martha Goode (Circle in the Square's The Miracle Worker). Set design by Blair Mielnik (NY IT Award nominee Outstanding Set Design for To Barcelona!); costume design by Rachel Dozier-Ezell; lighting design by Dan Gallagher; original music composed by Jessie Montgomery. Carolynn Richer is the production stage manager and Jean Marie Hufford is the assistant stage manager. Press representation by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR and Michael Roderick/Small Pond Entertainment is the producing consultant.
THE FAMILY SHAKESPEARE plays the following schedule through Saturday, April 30th:
Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7pm
Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm
Tuesday performances are followed by a talk-back.
Tickets are $18 and are now available online at www.MTWorks.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the theatre's Box Office 30min prior to the show.
Running time: 2 hours including intermission
For more information visit www.mtworks.org
*Appearing Courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.
BIOGRAPHIES
David Stallings (Director / Playwright) Directing credits include: Louise Flory's Look After You, Tennessee Williams' Suddenly Last Summer, Edward Albee's The American Dream, Harold Pinter's Betrayal, and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. He has worked with several theatre companies including The Culture Project, Manhattan Theatre Source, Prospect Theater Company, Early Stages and Oberon Theatre Ensemble. He is a founding member of MTWorks, and serves as their Artistic Director. David has written several full-length plays and short pieces. Maieutic Theatre Works produced Folie a Deux: Insanity in Pairs in the fall of 2006 in New York City. Brandon Voss of HX Magazine called the play, "Riveting" and named Stallings as the "playwright to watch". Other plays include The ReEducation of Arizona, The Kindness Project (Break in the Day and The Stranger to Kindness), The Galveston Cycle (Barrier Island, A Song for St. Michael's and The Seawall), Deceiving Chance, Anaïs Nin Goes to Hell (1st Prize Winner Boston Theatre Works--Unbound Festival 2007--Semi Finalist for the Princess Grace Award 2008), Arpeggio (produced Fall '07 at the 45th Street Theater), A Daughter of Israel (produced Fall '10 at the Looking Glass Theatre), and The Family Shakespeare. On MTWorks' 2008 NYC Fringe production of Anaïs Nin Goes to Hell, the Village Voice said, "Thank the gods for David Stallings' Anais Nin Goes to Hell... a uniquely polished presence at the Fringe", and The New York Press said, "For a play about women but written by a man, it captured the greater female psyche." Most recently David's play Barrier Island received its world premiere at Center Stage NY, and is slated for a second production in Louisiana. His play The Stranger to Kindness will premiere June 2011 at The Robert Moss Theater as part of The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, directed by Heather Cohn. David has a BFA in Theater from the College of Santa Fe, NM. He is also a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. www.StallingsWrites.com.
