Classical Theatre Company to Present THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, 3/27-4/14

The Classical Theatre Company's (CTC) final production of their 2012-2013 Main Stage Season will be The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. The production runs three weeks from March 27^th-April 14^th 2013 at Studio 101 in Spring Street Studios- 1824 Spring Street.

Every year as part of the company's Main Stage season CTC produces at least one work by William Shakespeare. For our fifth anniversary season CTC will produce Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. This play is known in the classical canon for the harsh scrutiny with which it views the existence of both racism and intolerance in society. Further exploring this theme, CTC's three-man staging of the play takes place in a sorting room in the World War II death camp of Auschwitz. In CTC's production the setting of Auschwitz is a homage to other great renditions of this play, such as Tibor Egervari's Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice in Auschwitz, as well as an uncomfortable prism that juxtaposes the elegant words of Shakespeare with one of the most terrible places man has devised.

Through the course of their performance the prisoners are able to express their own stories and injustices calling on the strength in Shakespeare's words. The play does not end with a clear-cut resolution or with definitive answers on the issues of power and inequality. However, this production does stimulate the question of how our own prejudices big and small, blatant and subtle affect the lives of others and shape the world we all share. While not as satisfying as resolution, stimulating thought is sometimes the most effective step a society can take towards progress.

The Classical Theatre Company is dedicated to boldly re-envisioning classical drama on the stage, in the community, and in the classroom through engaging and enlightening plays - bringing them new life and relevance while maintaining the integrity that the works deserve.

CAST:

Actor 1 -Tom Prior
Actor 2 - Philip Lehl
Actor 3 - Matthew Keenan

DATES: March 27^th-April 14^th 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 7:30 PM (Preview)
Thursday, March 28, 2013 7:30 PM (Preview)
Friday, March 29, 2013 7:30 PM (Opening)
Saturday, March 30, 2013 7:30 PM
Sunday, March 31, 2013 2:30 PM (Post-show talk-back)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 7:30 PM
Thursday, April 4, 2013 7:30 PM
Friday, April 5, 2013 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 6, 2013 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 7, 2013 2:30 PM (Post-show talk-back)
Monday, April 8, 2013 7:30 PM (Industry Night) (Industry Night is open to the public)
Thursday, April 11, 2013 7:30 PM
Friday, April 12, 2013 7:30 PM
Saturday, April 13, 2013 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 14, 2013 2:30 PM (Post-show talk-back)

Tickets: General Admission $18, Seniors $15, Students and Industry $8. Available online at www.classicaltheatre.org

Performances will play Studio 101, Spring Street Studios, 1824 Spring Street, Houston, TX. For more information about Classical Theatre Company, call 713.963.9665 or visit www.classicaltheatre.org.

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