GLTF Presents Shakespeare's Doubly Delightful The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Great Lakes Theater Festival (GLTF), Cleveland's classic theater, concludes its 2010-11 season with William Shakespeare's doubly delightful romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona [Two Gents]. The production will be performed in the company's revolutionary and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, April 8 - 23. 2011. The Festival's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, will direct.

The production sponsor of The Two Gentlemen of Verona is PNC. Great Lakes Theater Festival's season is generously funded by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Festival receives additional season support from The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. Media sponsors for GLTF's 49th season are Cleveland Scene, The Plain Dealer, WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM ideastream and WKSU 89.7 FM.

"Two Gents is really one of Shakespeare's unknown theatrical treasures," said GLTF Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee. "The play is an absolutely beautiful story about young people coming of age...falling in and out and back in love. Along the way, it plumbs some extraordinary emotional depths and it also scales some euphoric heights...but throughout, there resounds a purity and truthfulness of storytelling that only William Shakespeare could have achieved. Although he was a young playwright in the early phases of his career when he wrote Two Gents, you can absolutely hear the heartbeat of classics to come, such as Romeo and Juliet, through the voices of Two Gents' characters. And this play is as fresh as it is accessible. There really is something in it for everyone, whether you're a Shakespeare buff...or brand new to his work."

In Two Gents, bosom buddies Valentine and Proteus are Verona's closest comrades. But their friendship is put to the ultimate test when Proteus forsakes his beloved Julia and competes for the affections of Valentine's newfound love, the strong-willed Silvia. Teeming with high comic scenes and rich, romantic language, Two Gents displays Shakespeare's copious comic powers at their hilarious height. And in Proteus, the GLTF role for which Tom Hanks won the Cleveland Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor in 1978, the Bard gives us one of his most memorable coming-of-age theatrical creations.

A live, onstage band infuses the The Two Gentlemen of Verona's contemporary setting with an infectious and fresh soundscape. "Shakespeare regularly incorporated music and musicians into his work," said the production's director, Charles Fee. "In Two Gents, the script, in fact, calls for musicians. We've really embraced the idea in our production - and we're incorporating a full band of live musicians into the action on stage. The music ranges from contemporary folk to rock...and even includes some subtle hip hop influences. The result is truly exhilarating. And I think audiences are going to have an absolute blast with it!"

Great Lakes Theater Festival's award-winning and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre features a visionary "Great Room" inspired design concept that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single unified environment. Hanna patrons select from a variety of seating opportunities including traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and private box seating. Arranged in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration where the audience surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows from the performance at the Hanna.

With Two Gents, GLTF will continue to offer free, live music in the Hanna's lounge following Saturday evening performances (non-opening night). Nightcap Night Saturdays encourage patrons to extend their stay at the Hanna and highlight the GLTF/Hanna experience as one of the most unique entertainment options in the region. The Roy King Trio will provide musical entertainment following the Saturday, March 26th performance in the Hanna lounge. Critically-acclaimed vocalist and theater artist, Helen Welch, will headline the series, performing after the show on Saturday, March 19th.

Great Lakes Theater Festival's Experience Enhancement Series is organized by day of week. The series highlights the Hanna's unique amenities and affords patrons access to Festival artists.

-----"Salon Thursdays" feature an engaging pre-show discussion with Festival artists beginning one hour before curtain. (Offered: Apr. 14 & 21)

-----"Happy Hour Fridays" afford audience members the opportunity to gather and socialize at the Hanna's bar early. Savory and sweet hors d' oeuvres along with a complete range of beverages are available for purchase ninety minutes before the show. (Offered: Apr. 8, 15, 22)

-----"Nightcap Night Saturdays" encourage audience members to stay after the evening performance and enjoy entertainment performed by the region's finest musicians and vocalists while mingling with the GLTF artistic company in the Hanna's lounge. The Hanna bar is open until ninety minutes after the performance. (Offered: Apr. 16 & 23)

-----"Ice Cream Social Sundays" offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or at intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every GLTF performance, but on "Ice Cream Social Sundays," the treat is half price. (Offered: Apr. 10 & 17)

-----"Director's Nights" offer audiences the opportunity to take part in a pre-show discussion with GLTF's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, before preview performances. (Offered: Apr. 8)

-----"Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions" inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the content and history of the play presented by a guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances. (Offered: Apr. 16 & 23)

GLTF will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this spring. The Hanna opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process of GLTF's actors and technical staff. Elements traditionally hidden from audiences such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering audiences an unprecedented glimpse into the theatrical process.

The Festival will continue its New Deal pricing initiative this spring - designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the program, adult tickets for every performance always begin at $15 and student tickets for any seat at any show are $13 - making the Great Lakes Theater Festival experience one of the most affordable entertainment options in the region.

The Opening Night performance of The Two Gentlemen of Verona is scheduled for Saturday, April 9th with a preview performance slated for the preceding Friday night. Curtain times for all evening performances will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for Saturday matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. GLTF will offer a sign-interpreted/ audio-described performance of Two Gents on Sunday, April 10.

Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$70 (Student tickets are $13 - any performance / any seat) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering online at www.greatlakestheater.org or by visiting The PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office. Groups of ten or more receive discounts of up to 40% by calling the Group Sales Department at (216) 241-5490 x302.

Great Lakes Theater Festival has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962. The first resident company of PlayhouseSquare, GLTF celebrates its 29th year in downtown Cleveland this season. Festival programming reaches 85,000 adults and students annually.

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