Stone Soup Shakespeare Opens 8th Season with Staged Reading of THE TRAGEDY OF RICHARD III

Stone Soup Shakespeare starts its 8th Season with a staged reading of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of King Richard III on Wednesday, October 11. The reading is directed by Christina Casano (Salanio/Prince of Morrocco, The Merchant of Venice reading 2015) and features a cast of 12 including Stone Soup Shakespeare tour veterans, past readers and new to Stone Soup area actors. The season opener takes place in the backroom of kibbitznest: books, brews and blarney just days before the bookstore/bar turns ONE.

Richard III takes place as the long series of civil wars in England, the War of the Roses, is nearing its end, and the seeming peace that has descended in the castle has our title character jealous, unhappy and plotting. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is the youngest brother of the new king (Edward IV) and is sixth in line for the crown. In order to get the crown Richard methodically kills (or has killed) everyone ahead of him AND marries Lady Anne...who he then has killed (sorry, spoilers), with the Duke of Buckingham as wingman. Just as Buckingham starts getting a bit squeamish about all the killing (and a bit miffed that he hasn't seen the promised prizes for Richard yet), the Earl of Richmond decides he wants to claim the thrown for himself and the killing stops to make room for a new war. On the eve of the Battle of Bosworth Richard and Richmond are visited by ghosts of Richard's victims promising certain doom for one and victory for the other.

Stone Soup Shakespeare's readings are very much an exploration of the text (combined with trivia). This exploration, under the helm of Casano, plays with the notion of just how far people will go for what they want. Of the play Casano says "while I'm interested in how the culture and context of the time helped form these characters and people, I've been interested in using this play to explore human nature and how far the characters are willing to take things before they lose it all." She has set the cut-throat characters and their motives in high school, where all emotions run strong.

Amid Shakespeare's iambic pentameter, rounds of trivia will be played with prizes that include theater tickets to other Chicago area theater companies including The Factory Theater, The Comrades, First Floor Theater, Interrobang Theatre Project and The Plagiarists. The trivia keeps the audience on their toes, and serves double-duty in Casano's setting as our very own "pop quizzes." Don't worry, these quizzes won't be added to your permanent record.

This new venue for Stone Soup Shakespeare's reading series is reason enough to make plans for this event. Kibbitznest is part coffee shop, part bar, part bookstore. It doesn't offer wifi as it encourages conversation - kibitzing - and a place for the community "to engage and share, face to face."

What: The Tragedy of Richard III - a staged reading

When: Wednesday, October 11, 7PM

Where: kibbitznest: books, brews and blarney (2212 N Clybourn Ave)

Who: Stone Soup Shakespeare and Christina Casano (director), Molly Bunder* (Anne/Wiltshire), Joe Feliciano (Duchess of York), Emily Green* (Richard III), Elaina Henderson (Hastings), Tony Kaehny (Buckingham), Kristin Morris (Clarence/Margaret/Lord Mayor), Ian Muentener (Catesby), Quinton Sledge (Lord Stanley), Brittany Stock (Rivers/Richmond), Krista Taylor (Queen Elizabeth), Brittani Yawn (Grey/Ratcliff) and Theo Zucker (King Edward/Prince Edward/Lady Elizabeth/Murderer)

Why: because it's fun and you need something to do on a Wednesday that isn't laundry

How: it's FREE, just show up and join in (of course there is a great bar at kibbitznest so feel free to bring your wallet to add to your evening adventure)

More details at www.stonesoupshakespeare.com

*denotes Stone Soup Shakespeare company member

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