Queens-based Titan Theatre Company will conclude its critically acclaimed, award-winning second season with a signature take on Shakespeare's epic masterpiece King Lear. The production will play a limited run today, April 25 - May 11, 2014 at Queens Theatre, the borough's premiere performing arts venue. Titan Theatre Company Artistic Director Lenny Banovez, who previously helmed Titan's hit productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Henry V, will direct.
Broadway veteran and Titan Company Member Terry Layman returns to the Titan stage this Spring, assuming the title role in this searing new production of Shakespeare's epic masterpiece. Both an intimate family drama about an aging king and his three daughters and an explosive political commentary, LEAR explores the most basic themes of our existence: love and loyalty; friendship and betrayal; destiny and the overwhelming inevitability of a life nearing its end.
"Having settled our artistic home in Queens, We couldn't be more thrilled to be presenting this production of what is widely considered Shakespeare's greatest play at the borough's premier performing arts venue with such a superb cast and creative team," said Titan Theatre Company Managing Director and Producer
Kevin Beebee. "We've been grateful for the impeccable talent and supportive audiences that have so generously helped us achieve this landmark season and the great news is that this is only just the beginning for Titan." Queens Theatre Managing Director,
Taryn Sacramone, added: "At Queens Theatre, we are proud and thrilled to welcome TITAN Theatre Company this spring. They have shown a commitment to producing innovative, energetic theatre in Queens ? we are proud to be a part of this exciting young company's story."
King Lear surrounds Layman with an 'A' list cast which includes Titan Company members
Brendan Marshall-Rashid (Steppenwolf,
Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare)
Laura Frye (Virginia Shakespeare, Teatro Franco Parenti)
Tristan Colton (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ),
Jonathan Matthew Finnegan (Actors Theatre of Louisville, St. Louis Rep)
Lloyd Mulvey (Utah Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep), Jonathan Hicks (Milwaukee Rep, Chicago Shakespeare) and
Michael Selkirk (WorkShop Theatre) as well as Titan Alum
Amanda Duffy,
Brad Makarowski,
Susan Maris, R.
Scott Williams and Titan newcomers Greg Oliver Bodine,
John Phillips, Bailey Seeker,
Leah Gabriel,
John Patrick Driscoll, Angela Kriese, Jamie Jung, and Nicholas Sotack.
Additional creative team also includes: Scott Frost (Costume Design), Weston Wetzel (Lighting Design), Jasmine Nicole (Set Design) Jonathan Hicks (Fight Choreography),
Jesse Michael Mothershed (Speech & Text), and Matt Van Slyke (Stage Management).
King Lear is produced by Titan Theatre Company Managing Director
Kevin Beebee. The production is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor
Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. King Lear is an Equity Approved showcase.
Tickets for King Lear will go on sale March 17, 2014 and can be purchased online at
www.TitanTheatreCompany.com or
www.QueensTheatre.org. The Queens Theatre is located at 14 United Nations Avenue South in the lovely Flushing Meadows Park, directly under the iconic towers of the New York State Pavilion. They are easily accessible by car, bus and subway. Queens Theatre also provides a free shuttle service to and from the theatre. For more information, visit
www.QueensTheatre.org.
ABOUT TITAN THEATRE COMPANY: Conceived by friends
Kevin Beebee, Lenny Banovez and
Laura Frye with the goal of breathing new life and clarity into classical works of theatre through visceral, challenging, ensemble-driven productions, Titan Theatre Company began performing in 2009 in a Tex-Mex Bar and Restaurant in Long Island City, Queens. Since that time, Titan's signature work - which includes distinguished takes on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Love's Labour's Lost and Macbeth - has been embraced by audiences from all walks of life, and the company is a proud contributing member to the exciting and innovative hotbed that is the Queens theatre scene.
Now concluding its highly anticipated second full season after having established itself as one of New York City's hottest young theatre companies, TITAN remains steadfast in its mission to champion, risk, rediscover and inspire while delivering affordable, provocative and unparalleled theatrical experiences for even the most adventurous of theatre-goers.
ABOUT QUEENS THEATRE: Queens Theatre (QT) is the premier performing arts venue in Queens. QT's mission is to provide quality and diverse performing arts activities that are economically and geographically accessible to the 2.2 million residents of Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the nation, and the surrounding metropolitan region. To foster greater cultural awareness and appreciation, the Theatre presents and produces programs that reflect this diversity and feature international, national and local artists.
