Four Clowns to Stage HAMLET at Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, 9/18-10/10

Los Angeles' favorite clown troupe Four Clowns, still buzzing from the success of their recent award-winning Hollywood Fringe Festival engagement, teams up with the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles for an all new take on one of the Bard's most popular works. Four Clowns presents Hamlet will run for eight performances only, Fridays and Saturdays from September 18 - October 10, 2015, all shows at 8:00pm. Shakespeare's Hamlet has been appearing in various forms across LA this year, and it seems only natural for the Clowns to take on this classic story.

This is not the first time Four Clowns has worked with Shakespeare's text. In 2011 the company produced an award-winning version of Romeo & Juliet, and just this past fall they teamed up with California State University Long Beach to present a devised version of Ubu Roi called Ubu The Sh*t, a French play based on Shakespeare's Macbeth. In the realm of firsts, however, Four Clowns has been expanding its ensemble of extremely talented actors over the past two years and this will be the first time several of the company's new members will be featured. This cast of nine will be working with long-time company member and director Turner Munch who previously directed the company's award-wining productions of Me Rich You Learn and That Beautiful Laugh which ran at the 2013 and 2012 Hollywood Fringe Festivals. Of the production, Mr. Munch feels quite strongly that "this is not a bunch of clowns trying to 'perform' the play of Hamlet. Our clowns assume these roles and are making these choices."

Something is stinky in the state of Denmark. Join the award-winning company, Four Clowns, on a journey of deceit, vengeance, and general ass-holery as this raucous chorus of characters explores the dredges of madness. With Hamlet at the helm - the biggest joker of all time - this highly physical production slips and slides through the pages of Shakespeare, as the clowns hash out the meaning of rosemary and rue. But at the end of the day even clowns can't take the sting out of mass murder. This is Shakespeare as you've never seen before. Alas Poor, Yorick. You thought you knew him well.

The show stars Tyler Bremer as GUILDENSTERN; Charlotte Chanler as GERTRUDE; Joe DeSoto as LAERTES and GHOST; Drew Eiden as HAMLET; Scotty Farris as POLONIUS; Elizabeth Godley as OPHELIA; Dave Honigman as ROSENCRANTZ; Corey Johnson as CLAUDIUS; and Connor Kelly-Eiding as HORATIO. With Stage Manager Ashley Jo Navarro; Set & Props Designer Alexandra Giron; Costume, Hair, & Make-Up Designer Elena Flores; Lighting Designer McLeod Benson; Production Manager Julianna Stephanie Ojeda; Technical Director Matthew MacCready; Fight Choreographer Matt Franta; Graphic Designer Zach Steel; Artistic Director and Producer Jeremy Aluma; and Producers David Anthony Anis and Sara Waugh.

Four Clowns is a Los Angeles based, nationally touring, award winning, clown troupe dedicated to entertaining audiences and experimenting with the relationship between actors and audience all whilst shining a light on humanity. Four Clowns implements aspects of physical theatre, text, music, dance, and the shattering of the fourth wall in all of their productions. The company is constantly redefining the audience's relationship to the performers on stage. Four Clowns' multiple-award-winning, critically acclaimed productions have played in Sao Paolo, Brazil; New York City (La MaMa & Theatre Row, Off-Broadway); Chicago (Neo-Futurists); Las Vegas; San Francisco; Minneapolis; Indianapolis; Phoenix; Kingsland, GA; Telluride, CO; and all over Southern California, including South Coast Repertory and REDCAT. For more information on the company and upcoming shows, stay in touch with Four Clowns on social media: "Like" on Facebook; follow on Twitter @4clowns; follow on Instagram @fourclowns; or visit the website at www.fourclowns.org.

Operating since 1986, the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles has been serving the city of Los Angeles through its philanthropic programming, such as the Veterans In Art initiative that employs and trains chronically unemployed veterans in all areas of live theatrical production support and provides free admission to veterans, their families and care-givers, as well as those on active duty in all branches of the military. Their impact on the theatre community in Los Angeles is reflected by the work they do to fully support the company's Mission Statement: The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles enriches and builds personal growth, professional development and social change through arts experiences inspired by Shakespeare's plays and poetry, focusing on empowering underserved youth and veterans.

IF YOU GO:

Four Clowns presents HAMLET at the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles

Friday September 18 at 8:00pm
Saturday September 19 at 8:00pm
Friday September 25 at 8:00pm
Saturday September 26 at 8:00pm
Friday October 2 at 8:00pm
Saturday October 3 at 8:00pm
Friday October 9 at 8:00pm
Saturday October 10 at 8:00pm

Show runs under 90 minutes with no intermission

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles, 1238 W 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Tickets: $12 - $15 at www.fourclowns.org or 562.508.1788

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