 | The Yale Rep poster for "The Comedy of Errors," which will be staged Feb. 11-March 13 at the University Theatre. |
"The Comedy of Errors," Shakespeare's tale of mistaken identities and merry misunderstandings, will be the next offering on the dramatic menu at the Yale Repertory Theatre.
The play, directed by Kenneth Albers, will be presented Feb. 11-March 13 in the University Theatre, 222 York St.
The production is also the centerpiece of this year's "Will Power!" program -- a collaboration between the Yale Rep, the School of Drama and the New Haven Public Schools designed to bring Shakespeare into the classroom and young people into the theater. Last year 1,800 students attended the "Will Power!" performances of "King Lear"; this year, nearly 2,500 students have already signed up to attend -- a 25% increase.
"The Comedy of Errors" is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and his shortest. In the tale, the merchant Antipholus and his servant, Dromio, arrive in the fair city of Ephesus for the first time, but are surprised to discover that everyone here seems to know them by name. One woebegone woman even insists Antipholus is her husband and says she wants him home for supper right away. The ultimate solution to the mystery involves two sets of twins, a condemned merchant and a mysterious abbess.
Director Albers is a resident actor and director with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where later this season he will direct "Love's Labours Lost" and play Malvolio in "Twelfth Night." He will also direct "The Underpants" at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. In addition to acting and directing at regional theaters throughout the country, Albers served as managing director of the La Crosse Community Theater, director of theater for Case Western Reserve University, artistic director of The Actors Company of Cleveland and associate artistic director for both The Cleveland Play House and Milwaukee Rep.
The cast of "The Comedy of Errors" features Jonathan Bustle (Balthasar), Rich Dart (Musical Merchant), Catherine Lynn Davis (Dromio of Syracuse), Ted Deasy (Antipholus of Ephesus), Michael Early (Angelo), Jesse Gabbard (Officer), Megan Gaffney (Ensemble), Grant Goodman (Antipholus of Syracuse), Lucas Howland (Merchant #1), Mikelle Johnson (Dromio of Ephesus), Laurie Kennedy (Emilia), Dan Kremer (Egeon), William Langan (Duke Solinus), Albert Lawrence (Ensemble), Kobi Libii (Merchant #2), Mozhan Navabi (Courtesan), Joey Parsons (Luciana), Thom Rivera (Pinch), Jennifer Roszell (Adriana), Daina Schatz (Ensemble) and Jedadiah Schultz (Sad Clown).
Early, Langan and Parsons are alumni of the School of Drama; Johnson and Navabi are M.F.A. candidates at the drama school; and Lawrence and Libii are sophomores in Yale College.
The Yale production will feature original music by John Tanner, a renowned composer who is making his Yale Rep debut. He has been involved in theatrical productions throughout the country and is the owner of Tanner Music, which provides original music and sound design for international, national and regional television and radio commercials. Tanner has composed original music and sound design for PBS documentaries, and has received Gold and Platinum Records for his recording engineer work.
The play also features scenic design by Evonne Esther Griffin, costume design by Alixandra Gage Englund, lighting design by Bryan Keller and sound design by Amber Papini. Kate McConnell is the dramaturg, Grace Zandarski is the vocal coach, and Anne Michelson is the stage manager.
"The Comedy of Errors" will be presented Tuesday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Feb. 11-March 5 and on Saturday, March 12. A single Monday night performance on Feb. 14 will be held at 8 p.m. There will be 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, Feb. 19 and 26 and March 5 and 12, and on Wednesday, March 2. There will be student-only "Will Power!" matinees at 11 a.m. Monday-Saturday, March 7-11.
Yale Rep will offer a variety of special events during the run of "The Comedy of Errors" at no additional cost, including: Yale Night on Friday, Feb. 11, which includes a pre-show discussion with members of the creative team as well as free pizza courtesy of BAR and soft drinks for students from area colleges and universities; Opening Night on Thursday, Feb. 17, with a celebration following the performance at Playwright; "Re:Play," a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew following the matinee performance on Saturday, Feb. 19; and Senior Matinee on Wednesday, March 2. The production will be sign-interpreted and audio-described on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m.
Tickets range from $20 to $45 and may be purchased in person at the Yale Rep box office, 1120 Chapel St. (at York Street); by phone at (203) 432-1234; and online at www.yalerep.org.
For more information on the special "Will Power!" student-only matinees and for tickets to those performances, contact Ruth Feldman via phone at (203) 432-8425 or via e-mail at rm.feldman@yale.edu.
Funding for "Will Power!" is provided by the Carolyn Foundation, Educational Foundation of America and the Jane Marcher Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Elizabethan Club of Yale University. The teacher workshop is supported in part by Claire's Corner Copia, The Yale Bookstore and the Yale Office of New Haven and State Affairs.
T H I S
Shakespeare's merry tale of mix-ups
is the next Yale Rep offering
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