Photo Flash: Independent Shakespeare Co Invites Audiences to Vienna in MEASURE FOR MEASURE

This summer take a trip to a decadent Vienna as INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. opens the season with the wild and wonderful MEASURE FOR MEASURE. The plot twists come fast and furious in this production that is equal parts screwball romantic comedy and deliciously dark social satire. MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma, will begin previews at THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL on Saturday, June 24 at 7pm and will open on Saturday, July 1 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, July 22 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public! MEASURE FOR MEASURE is the first of two productions being presented at this year's GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA will play July 29 - September 3.

Regime change is coming to a decadent Vienna: the Duke's gone AWOL, and in his place sits a joyless man determined to take back the city. His first order of business? Executing a man whose only crime is love. When the pious Isabella comes to plead for her brother's life, she soon finds that unyielding morality isn't all it's cracked up to be and that human appetite is not so easily controlled. This dark comedy is one of Shakespeare's most modern plays, full of eccentric characters and wild surprises.

Managing Director David Melville says, "MEASURE FOR MEASURE looks at the conflict between strict moralism and unfettered hedonism-and asks what happens when rigid ideologues actually gain access to the reins of power. Audiences can expect a lot of food for thought mixed in with quite bawdy humor and some of the most vibrant characters Shakespeare ever created. Much as the play is full of unexpected twists, the set for this production will include hidden doorways, unusual entrances, and unexpected openings."

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

Melissa Chalsma (Director) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC). Under her leadership, along with co-founder David Melville, the company created the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, which has grown into the largest theater event of its kind in Los Angeles. In 2015, ISC received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's highest honor, the Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in theater.

She directs and acts in many ISC productions, including last season's critically acclaimed new adaptation of Richard III.

As a performer she has worked in theaters across the country, on Broadway (including the American premiere of Harold Pinter's Moonlight with Jason Robards, Blythe Danner, and Liev Schreiber), and in the UK.

As director: Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer, Hamlet, The Comedy of Errors, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Two Gentleman of Verona, Romeo & Juliet. She has performed in theaters across the country, on Broadway (including the American premiere of Harold Pinter's Moonlight with Jason Robards, Blythe Danner, and Liev Schreiber), and in the UK.

In her ten years as a college faculty member she taught at Moorpark College, Pepperdine University, and California State University, Northridge. Drawing on her experience as an educator, she has guided the company in the development of educational programming for schools, as well as workshops directed toward families that take place before performances in Griffith Park.

The cast of MEASURE FOR MEASURE will feature: Richard Azurdia, Patrick Batiste, Joseph Culliton, William Elsman, April Fritz, Lorenzo González, David Melville, Xavi Moreno, Nathan Nonhof, Bukola Ogunmola, Nikhil Pai, Evan Lewis Smith, Kalean Ung and Donna Zadeh.

Season Production Design is by Caitlin Lainoff. Season Lighting Design is by Bosco Flanagan. Costume Design is by Elizabeth Cox.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING

MEASURE FOR MEASURE will preview on Saturday, June 24 at 7:00pm and will open on Saturday, July 1 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, July 23 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public.

For more information, please call (818) 710-6306 or online at www.iscla.org

Photo Credit: Grettel Cortes Photography

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