PULP SHAKESPEARE Joins 2012 New York International Fringe Festival Encore Series

PULP SHAKESPEARE, a "Best of Fest" winner at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Fest, has been selected to be presented in the 2012 FringeNYC Encores Series. Out of the 187 productions in this year's FringeNYC Festival, PULP SHAKESPEARE is one of just fifteen chosen for an encore performance. Performances begin September 19 at the Soho Playhouse.

Imagining what it may have been like had William Shakespeare written the 1994 Quentin Tarantino cult classic film Pulp Fiction, PULP SHAKESPEARE weaves the story of a pair of Elizabethan murderers, their boss's alluring wife and a desperate knight through a breezy, lyrical 80-minute homage to two of history's most popular storytellers.

Adapted by Ben Tallen (Minnesota Fringe Festival's Tempest), Aaron Greer (Kafkaeqsue), BrIan Watson-Jones (A Klingon Christmas Carol) and Jordan Monsell (Connecticut Repertory Theatre's Hamlet), PULP SHAKESPEARE is being presented by Her Majesty's Secret Players, whose focus is to introduce a new slant on Shakespeare and ignite a newfound appreciation of the Bard in popular culture. Monsell also directs the production.

The cast of PULP SHAKESPEARE, nominated for the LA WEEKLY's Best Ensemble award, features Hannah Beck(Seventeenth Of June, FringeNYC's Skin Around The Earth), Curtis D. Davis (who as a singer has worked with Usher and Peabo Bryson), Liza de Weerd (The Merchant of Venice, The Trip to Bountiful), Nathaniel Freeman (Colours In The Dark), John Klopping (Noises Off, Measure for Measure), David Lautman (Live-In Fear), Christian Levatino (Balm In Gilead, Talk Radio), Aaron Lyons (Cousin Bette, Hamlet), Juan Perez (A View from the Bridge, Wait Until Dark), BrIan Weiss (The Merchant of Venice, Two Rooms), Dan White (Barbershop, MTV's Pimp My Ride), Justine Woodford (To Carry the Child, Into the Woods) and Monsell.

Lighting and sound design are by Aaron Lyons (Rise) and BrIan Weiss (Richard II). The FringeNYC award-winning costume design is by Kelly Bailey (I Love Lucy Live On Stage). The music, featuring Elizabethan versions of the original film soundtrack, was composed by Todd Monsell (Director of the Charleston Children's Chorus) and Bill Weiss (Now Hiring, The Gale Whitman Show). 

PULP SHAKESPEARE will be performed at the Soho Playhouse, located at 15 Vandam Street between Varick Street and Sixth Avenue. The performance schedule is as follows: Wednesday, September 19 at 8pm; Thursday, September 20 at 9pm; Saturday, September 22 at 3pm; Monday, September 24 at 8pm; and Wednesday, September 26 at 8pm.

Tickets ($18) can be purchased by calling (212) 691-1555 or visiting www.SohoPlayhouse.com.