Chesapeake Shakespeare's TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Plays The Other Barn, Now thru 3/17

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona at The Other Barn in Columbia, MD. Running tonight, February 22 through March 17, William Shakespeare's offbeat comedy receives a modern twist as Director Patrick Kilpatrick transports the setting to the bodacious early 1990's.

This contemporary treatment of Two Gents likens the young, arrogant, and rich characters Proteus and Valentine to many other notorious headline-makers of the early Nineties such as the Menendez Brothers and William Kennedy Smith. Audiences will be entertained as these two characters move through their privileged lives with raucous and reckless abandon.

"Proteus and Valentine come from families of extreme wealth and power," says director Patrick Kilpatrick. "They have a sense of entitlement that most of us will never be able to understand. These two guys believe they can do whatever they want and get away with it -- and they may just be right."

Valentine sets off for Milan to expand his horizons, while Proteus remains in Verona to be with Julia, the love of his life. The young men's friendship is put to the ultimate test when Proteus forsakes his beloved to vie for the affections of Valentine's newfound love, the strong-willed Sylvia. Teeming with high comic scenes and rich, romantic language, Two Gents explores the complexities of young love and the dynamics of male friendship.

This production's title roles feature CSC Resident Artists Vince Eisensen (Proteus), James Jager (Valentine), Ty Hallmark (Sylvia), and newcomer Megan Dominy (Julia). This production also includes CSC Company members Greg Burgess, Jose Guzman, Jonas David Grey, Jenny Leopold, Frank Moorman, and Michael P. Sullivan.

Every Friday night during the run of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, CSC presents complimentary Extended Versions. These gatherings start one hour before the show and give the audience and artists an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on Shakespeare's work and the artistry of the theater. Visit www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/tickets for detailed information on Extended Versions.

The Other Barn is located at 5851 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia, Md. The production runs tonight, February 22 - March 17, 2013, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased online through the website www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com or by calling 410.313.8661. Prices: $15-$36. Media night is set for Friday, February 22, 2013.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is resourceful in its use of unique performance spaces, ranging from the ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute, to old carriage houses and even maximum security prisons. This upcoming production proves no different - The Other Barn is on the grounds of a repurposed dairy farm in Columbia, MD. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is making a name for itself in downtown Baltimore as well - they have recently purchased the historic Mercantile Trust and Deposit Company building and have plans to create a new 250-seat Modern Globe performance space for classic theater.

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, the Baltimore area's third largest theater company, was founded in 2002 with a mission to create innovative performance and education programs that bring the works of William Shakespeare and other classics to life. It is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the organization for professional theaters in the United States and the Shakespeare Theatre Association, the international organization for professional Shakespeare theaters. Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is committed to making the arts more accessible to the community by intensifying the connection between audiences and artists and some of the greatest works of theater ever written.

Photo Credit: Teresa Castracane

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