Fools & Kings Project to Open PERICLES This Weekend at Riverbank State Park

The Fools & Kings Project in collaboration with Riverbank State Park opens its free outdoor production of Pericles on Saturday, September 9th at Riverbank State Park at 4:00 PM (entrance at W 145th St. and Riverside Drive). This marks the second of the company's fourth season of free, outdoor Shakespeare.

The production, directed by Rob Sniffin, combines Shakespeare's words with music (composed by William Bednar) to heighten the Bard's text.

Step into the world of Pericles, one of Shakespeare's least known but most spell-binding plays. An examination of human nature at its best and worst, this highly musical and movement driven production is built on a core of familial relationships. The audience watches through the eyes of Pericles and his family as they are manipulated by the Seven Deadly Sins and the dark forces that follow them! Infusing Dante's Inferno, classic science fiction and fantasy with music inspired by David Bowie, this experiment brings the text this rarely seen Shakespearean epic to new life. Come, join in the revelry of temptation, magic, madness, and the power of choice.

The production team is rounded out by CameRon Clarke (Assistant Director), Morgana Marie Sommer (Stage Manager), Dispatch Combat Collection: Conor Mullen and Calan Suozzi-Rearic (Fight Directors), Arden Winant (Movement Director), and ShAnn Smith (Director of Social Media and Marketing). P ericles features Joel Austin (Fraud - Gower), Keith Boratko (Pericles), Kate Hopkins (Lust - Bawd and others), Tucker Dally Johnston (Pride - Helicanus and others), Stephen Kime (Gluttony - Simonides and others), Lauren Lay (Marina), Julia McNamara (Heresy - Lycorida and others), TriStan Miller (Envy - Boult and others), Dustin Sutliff (Greed - Cleon and others), Zoey Rutherford (Thaisa), Liz Tancredi (Wrath - Dionyza and others), and Christopher Whitehead (Sloth - Lysimachus and others).

Performances at Riverbank State Park are Saturdays and Sundays September 9th - September 24th. Saturday Performances start at 4 PM, while Sunday performances start at 2 PM. You can find Riverbank State Park by entering at W 145th St and Riverside Drive. There are two special performances at Summit Rock on Saturday and Sunday, September 30th at 5 PM and October 1st at 2 PM. Summit Rock's entrance is on W 86th St and Central Park West.

The Fools & Kings Project is dedicated to bringing accessible, engaging theatre to New York City and its surrounding areas, with an emphasis on Shakespeare and other classical texts. Simple yet compelling design, combined with a fast-paced, high-stakes approach creates powerful, enticing productions which attract the expert and novice alike. Co-founded by Melissa Meli (Artistic Director) and Vanessa Wendt (Managing Director). Visit www.thefoolsandkingsproject.com for more information.

Photo Credit: Chelsea Rowe