The Hypocrites to Bring ROMEO JULIET & 12 NIGHTS to A.R.T. Next Month

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University has announced the return of the Chicago company The Hypocrites, with their mash-up of Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet and 12 Nights. Adapted and directed by Artistic Director Sean Graney, the two productions will play in repertory at OBERON, 2 Arrow Street, Cambridge. Both productions are appropriate to children over the age of ten.

Graney's Romeo Juliet uses both Shakespeare's familiar play as well as Felice Romani's libretto for Bellini's 1830 opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi, based on Italian sources. The four performers - taking on all the roles of the drama - have also been asked to create the world in which they perform the story, a visual sculpture that interacts with theseclippings of the greatest love story ever told in an entertaining and enlightening way.

Romeo Juliet plays February 19 at 8pm, February 21 at 7:30pm and February 22 at 11am.

12 Nights is Graney's adaptation is based on Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night as well as Barnabe Riche's 1581 prose narrative "Of Apolonius and Silla," which has its roots, in turn, in a 1531 Italian play called Gl'Ingannati (The Deceived Ones) and, further back, the mistaken-identity comedies of Plautus. All three stories center on a young woman who disguises herself as a servant boy, falls madly in love with her employer, and is required to woo another woman on his behalf, who falls madly in love with the cross-dresser. The Hypocrites company of four actors play all the roles, and again, have designed the multicolored setting for this comedy of errors.

12 Nights plays February 18 & 20 at 8pm and February 21 at 10pm

The Hypocrites, known for their insightful illuminations of classic and obscure theater texts, brought their delightful take on Pirates of Penzanceback to Cambridge for a second sold-out run at the end of A.R.T.'s 2012/13 Season. Founded in 1997 by Artistic Director Sean Graney,The Hypocrites are recognized as a groundbreaking company and mainstay of theater Chicago. Currently run by Artistic Director Halena Kays and Managing Director Megan Wildebour, the company has grown significantly in the past few years, receiving acclaim for productions at Steppenwolf Garage, Goodman Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art, DCA Storefront and Chopin Theater. The company's smash-hit production of Our Town, directed by David Cromer, transferred in 2009 to Off-Broadway, Los Angeles, and Boston. Pirates of Penzance recently enjoyed a run at Actors Theatre of Louisville in 2014. American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Tony Awards, presented The Hypocrites with one of the 2013 National Theatre Company awards.

Sean Graney has directed over 30 productions for The Hypocrites since he founded the company. He was a participant in the NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Directors. He has won two Joseph Jefferson Citation Awards for the direction of Equus and Machinal. He has directed Edward II (Chicago Shakespeare), The Hairy Ape (Eugene O'Neill Festival at Goodman Theatre), The Comedy of Errors,The Mystery of Irma Vep and What the Butler Saw (Court Theatre),The Complete Works of William Shakespeare(abridged) and Yankee Tavern (Milwaukee Rep), The Elephant Man (Steppenwolf for Young Audiences), and The Hundred Dresses,Hana's Suitcase and Honus and Me (Chicago Children's Theatre). He also has adapted several plays, most recently Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses, an adaptation of all seven surviving texts of Sophocles.

Ticket prices are $20 all seats. For more information on these productions and other winter/spring events, as well as tickets visit www.cluboberon.com.

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