Seven Stages Shakespeare Company to Present BEING SHAKESPEARE This Fall

"All the world's a stage". These famous lines penned by William Shakespeare help tell the story of who Shakespeare himself was in Jonathan Bate's play Being Shakespeare, opening on October 7 at West End Studio Theater in Portsmouth, NH. Presented by Seven Stages Shakespeare Company (7SSC) and Artists' Collaborative Theatre Of New England, this production is the American premiere of the new play by the esteemed Shakespearean scholar Jonathan Bate.

This inventive, one-man show walks audiences through the life of William Shakespeare and draws from Shakespeare's plays and poems to further understand just who "the soul of his age" was, and what that age looked like.

The production is directed by Dan Beaulieu, 7SSC Co-Founder and Artistic Director, and stars the highly acclaimed actor Joel Colodner, hailed by Boston Globe's Don Aucoin as "...that splendid actor whose disciplined craftsmanship is, as ever, a pleasure to behold." Through the play, Colodner brings to life an aging Lear, Hamlet torn between revenge and doubt, ambitious Macbeth, and flawless Henry V, all while yearning to get closer to the man moving the quill. "Joel's extensive resume and experience is topped only by his immeasurable talent and simpatico passion for the bard," says director Dan Beaulieu.

The production is made possible with support from: Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café; White Heron Tea & Coffee; M. Christine Dwyer & Michael Huxtable; and Olde Port Traders, as well as from Travel Partner C&J Bus Lines, and Season Sponsors: Faith Harrington & Peter Lamb through the Maine Community Foundation; Art-Speak; DTC Lawyers: Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella; and Eric D. Dufour, MBA, CFP of SagePoint Financial.

Creating programming that is artistically, physically, and fiscally accessible for all is at the heart of Seven Stages Shakespeare Company's mission. With that mission in mind, 7SSC will offer two ticketing options for this production: "FREE FOR ALL, Or Pay What You Will" seating will be made available at every performance, 10 minutes prior to show time; and guaranteed seating is available through ticket purchase, $14-$20, at actonenh.org or via phone at 603.300.2986.

Being Shakespeare is part of 7SSC's Shakespeare 400 Season, as the company participates in a worldwide initiative celebrating Shakespeare's legacy on this 400th anniversary of his passing. Being Shakespeare is the first of two full productions they will mount this fall as part of their Shakespeare 400 Season (Lear. is up next at the Millspace in Newmarket in November). And the company has already offered a number of unique opportunities to celebrate the Bard this year, such as: having April 23rd officially declared "Shakespeare Day" by the City of Portsmouth with a public proclamation made by City Council member Chris Dwyer in Market Square; an epic undertaking of eight history plays in one day called Messenger Day which took place over 13 hours at Throwback Brewery this past June, complete with specially brewed ShakesBEERs for the event; and the return of their monthly ShakesBEERience play reading series for its fifth season at The Press Room.

BEING SHAKESPEARE at West End Studio Theater in Portsmouth, NH plays on: Fri, Oct 7 at 7:30 PM; Sat, Oct 8 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM; Fri, Oct 14 at 7:30 PM; and Sat Oct 15 at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM. For more information, visit www.7stagesshakespeare.org.

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