Naked Shakespeare Announces 2017/18 Season of Performances
By: A.A. Cristi Sep. 21, 2017
Acorn Productions, producers of the Naked Shakespeare series, has chosen the theme of archetypes for the current season of performances in the Ballroom at Mechanics Hall. Each show brings together characters sharing similar traits from across the Shakespearean canon in one-hour shows that break down barriers between the actors and audience to create uniquely accessible takes on the text. In keeping with Naked Shakepeare's 13 year tradition, the company keeps costumes, scenery, lighting and props to a minimum in order to highlight the images and poetry present in the text.
Each show will be presented in two pay-what-you-can performances at the company's home in Mechanics Hall in downtown Portland, with the first show a preview on the first Thursday of the month, and the second presented right after the First Friday art walk concludes at 7pm. A new addition to the series this year is a third (and sometimes fourth) show that will be offered the week after the First Friday performances at a local food and drink establishment downtown. The venues chosen to host these shows are well-known to local audiences: Portland House of Music, Port City Blue, Bull Feeney's, Urban Farm Fermentory, Oxbow Blending and Bottling, and The Aphodian Theater. At the conclusion of this season, one of these six establishments will be chosen by the company to host a new alternative monthly series for the 2018/19 season.
"We wanted to expand the opportunities for both actors and audiences this season," says Michael Levine, the company's Artistic Director, "and booking a second set of performances in bars provides the chance for actors to allow the characters to grow over one or two additional shows, as well as for audience members to see the performance accompanied by food and drink. It brings us back to our roots in one sense since we expect the new shows to have a very similar ambience to the old Wine Bar shows."
Acorn Productions' Naked Shakespeare series strives to increase awareness and interest in the works of William Shakespeare by offering low-cost accessible thematic compilations of text from different plays. The company's hour-long performances feature trained actors delivering the Bard's best poetry in environmentally staged shows that utilize the unique architecture of whatever space in which the show is located. During performances, actors mingle in and around the audience, delivering the text conversationally to one another and the audience in unexpected ways that allow listeners to find new meaning in the text. The shows are competitively auditioned through an open call open to any actor in the community, and the shows generally feature many actors who have trained with Acorn in its Shakespeare Conservatory. Naked Shakespeare is the only company in Greater Portland producing regular, innovative and unique cuttings of Shakespeare's text presented in a style that both traditional theatergoers and the casual attendee can enjoy.
The 2017/18 Naked Shakespeare season consists of six different shows, three of which are directed by Levine, and the others by long-time company members. The March shows "Vaudevillians" features guest director Avner Eisenberg, better known as internationally-touring performer "Avner the Eccentric" working with the company on incoporating clowning routines into the show as Shakespeare's company might have used Commedia dell'Arte routines when his shows were originally performed. More details about all of Naked Shakespeare's plans for the upcoming season can be found on the company's website www.acorn-productions.org.
NAKED SHAKESPEARE 2017/18 SEASON
All shows begin at 7pm and are pay-what-you-can ($10 suggested donation)
SHAPESHIFTERS, directed by Michael Levine
Whether it be to gain information, hide from one's past sins, or remain in a country after exile, characters in Shakespeare's plays often disguise their identity for ends both noble and nefarious.
October 5 and 6 at Mechanics Hall and October 9 at Portland House of Music
SIRENS, directed by Sarah Barlow
Shakespeare's heroines often suffer the same fate as the Sirens of Greek mythology, innocently attracting people and situations that ultimately lead to their sad demise.
November 2 and 3 at Mechanics Hall and November 7 at Port City Blue
CROSS-DRESSERS, directed by Michael Levine
Follow the adventures of three of the bard's most strong-willed women as they try to win the hearts of their lovers by donning a doublet and hose in this gender-bending treat!
November 30 and December 1 at Mechanics Hall and December 4 at Bull Feeney's
THE CURSÉD, directed by Megan Tripaldi
They thought they could get away with treating them like dirt. They thought that they were safe in their high castles. They were so very wrong.
February 1 and 2 at Mechanics Hall and February 9 and 10 at Urban Farm Fermentory
VAUDEVILLIANS, co-directed by Michael Levine and Avner Eisenberg
Shakespeare meets commedia dell'arte when Maine's own master of vaudeville joins Naked Shakespeare to mix a little Phyzgig into the Bard.
March 1 and 2 at Mechanics Hall and March 9 and 10 at Oxbow Bottling and Blending
HEALERS, directed by Noah Bragg
What does it take to bring one back to health? Strong wine, song, herbal medications, or perhaps a vial of an undisclosed concoction offered by a shady apothecary in a shifty locale.
April 5 and 6 at Mechanics Hall and April 13 and 14 at The Aphodian Theater
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