TO PRESENT SHAKESPEARE’S PROVOCATIVE AND PLAYFUL DARK COMEDY AS YOU LIKE IT AT WALKERSPACE
PREVIEWS MAY 4, OPENS MAY 5
PRESS INVITATION/COVERAGE REQUEST: Sat 5/5 at 7:30pm, Sun 5/6 at 3pm, Tue 5/8 at 7:30pm, Wed 5/9 at 7:30pm (Press are welcome to attend shows beyond official press dates.)
The Queen’s Company, New York City’s acclaimed all-female classical theater company, proudly presents
William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, directed by The Queen’s Company Artistic Director Rebecca Patterson. As You Like It runs from May 4 – 20, 2012 in a limited engagement at Walkerspace, located at 46 Walker Street between Broadway and Church Street in Tribeca. Previews begin May 4 for a May 5 opening.
Performances are Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm with an additional matinee on Saturday, May 19 at 2pm. A post-show discussion with Rebecca Patterson and the cast will follow the Sunday, May 13 performance. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at http://www.SmartTix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. Tickets are 2 for 1 on Wednesday nights. For more information on the company visit http://www.QueensCompany.org.
After a violent South American coup drives the rightful ruler into the forest of Arden, lovers, philosophers and fools flee the dangerous court in search of safety. Provocative and playful, Shakespeare’s dark comedy As You Like It explores the paradoxical powers of love, domination, revenge and forgiveness. Featuring The Queen’s Company’s critically acclaimed all-female cast, the group promises a surprising and refreshing retelling of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved works.
The cast includes Tiffany Abercrombie, Elisabeth Ahrens, Virginia Baeta, Julia Campanelli, Amy Driesler, Sarah Hankins, Natalie Lebert, Heather MacDonald, Kristin McCarthy Parker and Annie Paul.
The design team includes Rohit Kapoor (Set Design), Isabella F. Byrd (Lighting Design), Anna Lacivita (
Costume Design), Ien DeNio (Sound Design) and Rin Allen (Fight Choreography). Jeanne Travis is the Production Stage Manager and composer of Shakespeare’s “blow, blow,” an original song in the show.
Joyful. Bold. Sexy. Funny. Elegant. Explosive. Riveting. The Queen’s Company is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation of innovative productions of classical plays featuring all-female casts. Their work is known for its exquisite use of language, bold physicality, creative storytelling and artistic playfulness that interweaves music and movement sequences with the classical text. Founded in 2000, they’ve presented twelve critically acclaimed productions directed by founding Artistic Director Rebecca Patterson. They advocate gender-blind casting in classical theatre.
Rebecca Patterson is the Artistic Director of The Queen’s Company. Past Queen’s Company productions include The Wonder, Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Edward II, School For Scandal, Much Ado About Nothing, The Lucky Chance, Antony & Cleopatra, The Feign’d Courtesans, The Duchess of Malfi, The Rover and Macbeth. Patterson’s other NYC directing credits include Wapato (Women’s Project), Greeks & Centaurs (Women’s Project), The Gabriels (SPF) and The Imaginary Invalid
(Resonance Ensemble). In 2010 she received a Lucille Lortel Award by the League of Professional Theatre Women for her direction in The Wonder and her longstanding body of work.
Rebecca Patterson states, “There are many compelling reasons for all-female casts in classical plays, the most obvious being the wealth of untapped talent and interpretations of our female actors. When we start talking about the humanity of a character with their own particular mix of male and female characteristics, that’s when things become exciting. There are many examples of classical productions with predominantly male casts. Our aesthetic is neither better nor
worse. It is simply different. It allows for a diversity of voices, insights and access, enriching our understanding and enjoyment of classical plays.”
Praise for The Queen’s Company
“The Queen’s Company, it seems, just wants to have fun, and fun they have. In this version of Taming of the Shrew there is no question that women rule…Taming is anything but tame.” ~ Phoebe Hoban, The New York Times
“Bearded or barefoot, these ladies act up a storm.” ~ Terry Teachout, The Washington Post
“The Queen’s Company, an all-female troupe, has mounted a fun and frivolous new production of Shakespeare’s [Much Ado About Nothing]…a charming evening.” ~ The New Yorker
“A treat…so many belly laughs…a lot of fun to be had.” ~ Ken Jaworowski, The New York Times on The Wonder
“Never did we have a raunchier or more spirited production of The Taming of the Shrew than the Queen’s Company’s current offering…a remarkable interpretation of Shakespeare’s timeless comedy.” ~ Irene Backalenick, Back Stage
Walkerspace is accessible from the #1 train to Franklin St., J, M, Z, N, Q, R, W, 6 trains to Canal St., and A, C, E trains to Canal-Church Sts.
