Issued by: Beth Stafford
414-229-4800
bstaff@uwm.edu
Date: March 13, 2003
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Issued by: Beth Stafford Date: March 13, 2003 |
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| Derrick Nelson |
A reception in the theater lobby will follow the opening night performance on Friday, April 11. Tickets are $9-$20 and may be purchased by calling the Peck School of the Arts Box Office at (414) 229-4308.
The first two productions of the partnership season, "Much Ado About Nothing" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," set sales records for the company and brought over 4,000 people to the Peck School of the Arts Mainstage Theatre in November and February. The success of the first two productions necessitated the move from the Studio Theatre, where "Othello" was originally slated to appear.
"Othello is rarely performed in Milwaukee," Milwaukee Shakespeare Company Artistic Director John Maclay observes. "In ‘Othello,' Shakespeare turned his unrelenting gaze on love, jealousy, and betrayal and created a devastating tragedy." Milwaukee Shakespeare Company has assembled a strong cast that features Chicago-based actor Derrick Nelson as Othello and American Players Theatre veteran James Ridge as Iago. Robert G. Anderson will direct the play.
Rebecca Merritt plays Desdemona and Marie Kohler is Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's attendant. The cast also includes D. Lance Marsh, Robert Quinlan, Matthew Tallman, and Patrick Placzkowski. Though Nelson is making his first appearance with the Milwaukee Shakespeare Company, he is not unknown to Wisconsin audiences. His last show was "Lobby Hero" at the Madison Repertory Theatre, and he performed opposite Ridge in "Blood Knot" at Next Act Theatre.
Maclay is also pleased to have a director with such extensive experience acting in and directing Shakespeare. Anderson is the resident director for the American Shakespeare Theatre Company, an international touring ensemble that has performed in Taiwan, Cyprus and Italy. His directing credits include "Hamlet," "Two Gentlemen of Verona," "Henry V," "All's Well That Ends Well," "Arcadia, You Never Can Tell," "The Erpingham Camp," "Boy's Life," and "The Miracle Worker." As an actor, he has appeared in over 60 productions with the Illinois, Idaho, Baltimore and Chicago Shakespeare Festivals, and spent six seasons with the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival.
Anderson received an MFA in Theatre from the PTTP at the University of Delaware and is currently a visiting professor of acting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The production team for "Othello" includes Christopher Guse (set design), Jennifer Cobb (costumes), Jason Fassl (lights), Peter Koenig (props), Josh Schmidt (sound design), and Kate DeCoste (stage manager).
Milwaukee Shakespeare Company will offer four matinees of "Othello" for area middle and high school students. Schools interested in booking seats should call (414) 298-9931 or e-mail Robert Quinlan at Shakespearebob@aol.com.
TICKET INFORMATION: Single tickets are $20 (weekend evenings); $18 (weeknights); $15 for seniors (all performances) and $9 for students (all performances). Group rates available. For single tickets, please call the UWM Peck School of the Arts Box Office at (414) 229-4308. Box office hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and one hour prior to performance. The Box Office is now located in the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts, 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd.
STUDENT MATINEES: There are limited seats available for the four student matinees for "Othello" (April 16, 17, 23 and 24). All student matinees begin at 10 a.m. and tickets are $6 per student. Groups must schedule in advance and can do so by contacting Robert Quinlan at (414) 298-9931 or at Shakespearebob@aol.com. OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE
By William Shakespeare
April 11-27, 2003
Directed by Robert G. Anderson
UWM Mainstage Theatre
Rarely performed in Milwaukee, "Othello" is a story of love, jealousy, betrayal, and murder. Derrick Nelson plays the title role; Milwaukee and American Players Theatre veteran James Ridge is Iago. The cast also features Marie Kohler, Rebecca Merritt, D. Lance Marsh, Robert Quinlan, Matthew Tallman, and Patrick Placzkowski.
Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. Opening Night; reception follows performance
Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m.
Monday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. Pay What You Can
Thursday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 19 at 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 25 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 at 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. Closing
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