[NEohioPAL] GLTF Presents Shakespeare's Doubly Delightful "The Two Gentlemen of Verona"

[Todd Krispinsky]

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2011

Cleveland's Classic Theater Concludes 49th Season
With Shakespeare's Doubly Delightful Comedy
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare

A live onstage band infuses the production's contemporary setting
with an infectious and fresh folk/rock soundscape.

CLEVELAND, OH - Great Lakes Theater Festival (GLTF), Cleveland's classic
theater, concludes its 2010-11 season with William Shakespeare's doubly
delightful romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona [Two Gents]. The
production will be performed in the company's revolutionary and
audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, April 8 -
23. 2011. The Festival's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, will
direct.

The production sponsor of The Two Gentlemen of Verona is PNC. Great
Lakes Theater Festival's season is generously funded by the citizens of
Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Festival receives
additional season support from The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio
Arts Council. Media sponsors for GLTF's 49th season are Cleveland Scene,
The Plain Dealer, WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM ideastream and WKSU 89.7
FM.

"Two Gents is really one of Shakespeare's unknown theatrical treasures,"
said GLTF Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee. "The play is an
absolutely beautiful story about young people coming of age...falling in
and out and back in love. Along the way, it plumbs some extraordinary
emotional depths and it also scales some euphoric heights...but
throughout, there resounds a purity and truthfulness of storytelling
that only William Shakespeare could have achieved. Although he was a
young playwright in the early phases of his career when he wrote Two
Gents, you can absolutely hear the heartbeat of classics to come, such
as Romeo and Juliet, through the voices of Two Gents' characters. And
this play is as fresh as it is accessible. There really is something in
it for everyone, whether you're a Shakespeare buff...or brand new to his
work."

In Two Gents, bosom buddies Valentine and Proteus are Verona's closest
comrades. But their friendship is put to the ultimate test when Proteus
forsakes his beloved Julia and competes for the affections of
Valentine's newfound love, the strong-willed Silvia.  Teeming with high
comic scenes and rich, romantic language, Two Gents displays
Shakespeare's copious comic powers at their hilarious height.  And in
Proteus, the GLTF role for which Tom Hanks won the Cleveland Critics'
Circle Award for Best Actor in 1978, the Bard gives us one of his most
memorable coming-of-age theatrical creations.

A live, onstage band infuses the The Two Gentlemen of Verona's
contemporary setting with an infectious and fresh soundscape.
"Shakespeare regularly incorporated music and musicians into his work,"
said the production's director, Charles Fee. "In Two Gents, the script,
in fact, calls for musicians. We've really embraced the idea in our
production - and we're incorporating a full band of live musicians into
the action on stage. The music ranges from contemporary folk to
rock...and even includes some subtle hip hop influences. The result is
truly exhilarating. And I think audiences are going to have an absolute
blast with it!"

Great Lakes Theater Festival's award-winning and audience-friendly home
at the Hanna Theatre features a visionary "Great Room" inspired design
concept that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single
unified environment. Hanna patrons select from a variety of seating
opportunities including traditional theater seats, club chairs,
lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and private box seating.  Arranged
in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration where the audience
surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows from the
performance at the Hanna. 

With Two Gents, GLTF will continue to offer free, live music in the
Hanna's lounge following Saturday evening performances (non-opening
night). Nightcap Night Saturdays encourage patrons to extend their stay
at the Hanna and highlight the GLTF/Hanna experience as one of the most
unique entertainment options in the region. The Roy King Trio will
provide musical entertainment following the Saturday, March 26th
performance in the Hanna lounge. Critically-acclaimed vocalist and
theater artist, Helen Welch, will headline the series, performing after
the show on Saturday, March 19th.

Great Lakes Theater Festival's Experience Enhancement Series is
organized by day of week.  The series highlights the Hanna's unique
amenities and affords patrons access to Festival artists.

-----"Salon Thursdays" feature an engaging pre-show discussion with
Festival artists beginning one hour before curtain. (Offered: Apr. 14 &
21)

-----"Happy Hour Fridays" afford audience members the opportunity to
gather and socialize at the Hanna's bar early. Savory and sweet hors d'
oeuvres along with a complete range of beverages are available for
purchase ninety minutes before the show. (Offered: Apr. 8, 15, 22) 

-----"Nightcap Night Saturdays" encourage audience members to stay after
the evening performance and enjoy entertainment performed by the
region's finest musicians and vocalists while mingling with the GLTF
artistic company in the Hanna's lounge. The Hanna bar is open until
ninety minutes after the performance. (Offered: Apr. 16 & 23)

-----"Ice Cream Social Sundays" offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a
London theatre tradition brought state-side.  Audience members are
invited to purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or
at intermission.  Ice cream will be offered at every GLTF performance,
but on "Ice Cream Social Sundays," the treat is half price.  (Offered:
Apr. 10 & 17)

-----"Director's Nights" offer audiences the opportunity to take part in
a pre-show discussion with GLTF's Producing Artistic Director, Charles
Fee, before preview performances.  (Offered: Apr. 8)

-----"Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions" inform patrons with illuminating
introductions to the content and history of the play presented by a
guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances.  (Offered: Apr. 16 &
23)

GLTF will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists
and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this spring.
The Hanna opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance
allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process of
GLTF's actors and technical staff. Elements traditionally hidden from
audiences such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic
pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups will be conducted
in full view of patrons, offering audiences an unprecedented glimpse
into the theatrical process.

The Festival will continue its New Deal pricing initiative this spring -
designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the
program, adult tickets for every performance always begin at $15 and
student tickets for any seat at any show are $13 - making the Great
Lakes Theater Festival experience one of the most affordable
entertainment options in the region.

The Opening Night performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona is
scheduled for Saturday, April 9th with a preview performance slated for
the preceding Friday night. Curtain times for all evening performances
will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for Saturday
matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. GLTF will
offer a sign-interpreted/ audio-described performance of Two Gents on
Sunday, April 10.

Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$70 (Student tickets
are $13 - any performance / any seat) and are available by calling (216)
241-6000, by ordering online at www.greatlakestheater.org or by visiting
the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office. Groups of ten or more receive
discounts of up to 40% by calling the Group Sales Department at (216)
241-5490 x302.

Great Lakes Theater Festival has brought the pleasure, power and
relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962.
The first resident company of PlayhouseSquare, GLTF celebrates its 29th
year in downtown Cleveland this season. Festival programming reaches
85,000 adults and students annually.

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Media Contact:
Todd Krispinsky
Marketing and Public Relations Director
(216) 453-4449
tkrispinsky at greatlakestheater.org
<blocked::mailto:tkrispinsky at greatlakestheater.org> 


 
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