The National New Play Network (NNPN) in Washington, D.C., has chosen Gamut Theatre Group as one of three theaters across the country to premiere Women Playing Hamlet, written by William Missouri Downs. The play opens March 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Gamut Classic Theatre, and runs through March 29 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $27. Seniors and student tickets are $17. For ticket reservations please call 238-4111 or email Info@GamutTheatre.org.
There will be a post-show discussion with the Playwright, Director, and Executive Director of NNPN, Nan Barnett, on opening night. Following the March 14 performance, Gamut Theatre will host an Opening Weekend Gala. Guests will have the opportunity to meet and chat with the actors, Playwright, and Director. Gala tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple, and include admission to the performance as well as wine and hors d'oeuvres at the gala.
Women Playing Hamlet, directed by four-time Emmy winner, Patrick Flick, is a comedy about the tragedy of modern life. Four women play all the characters roles in this comedy about Jessica, an actress from Minnesota, who has been cast to play Hamlet in New York. Downs said, "I wrote the play after reading that nearly five hundred women have played the role of Hamlet in the last two hundred and fifty years. I was intrigued as to why so many actresses have been drawn to this part in particular and not, say, to King Lear or Richard III."
This production will feature Gamut's Executive Director and co-founder, Melissa Nicholson, as well as Tara Herweg,
Kathryn Miller, and
Amy Burke. The four women will play twenty roles of both genders. Downs said this was an intentional decision intended to reverse the tradition in Shakespeare's days of all of the roles being played by men.
Women Playing Hamlet is the 46th production in the National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere program. "Each audience member seeing the production is providing feedback to the playwright by their response to the show, thus becoming a part of the creation of the play and helping with its development," said Executive Director Nan Barnett, "As the play is strengthened and grows it enhances its ability to become a part of the American theatrical canon - to have a continued life. The choice to produce this new work is testament to the visionary leadership of Gamut."
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