Cast Announced for THE MAID'S TRAGEDY

Pocket Universe - the company behind last summer's acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Julius Caesar set in an all-girls highschool - has announced casting for the upcoming adaption of Beaumont & Fletcher's THE MAID'S TRAGEDY, set in present day Hollywood. The play will star Erin Roché* (All's Well That Ends Well, Two Gentlemen of Verona) as Melantius, Greg Carere (Pete Rex, The Improbable Fall... of John Law) as Amintor, Alyssa May Gold* (Arcadia on Broadway, Julius Caesar) as Evadne, Michael Thatcher* (Julius Caesar at NYSF, The Time Machine) as the King, Sydney Battle (Indian Head, Bonnie's Last Flight) as Aspatia, and Aleca Piper (Made To Dance In Burning Buildings) as Calianax/Dula/Lysippus. The Off-Broadway production will run from June 13 to June 30, 2018 at the Access Theater (380 Broadway) in TriBeCa. Opening night is set for Friday, June 15.

THE MAID'S TRAGEDY is a Jacobean revenge drama that centers on the hero Melantius, who must challenge the monarchy and reclaim the family's honor due to despicable conduct by the King. Traditionally portrayed as a male soldier returning home from war, Melantius discovers the King has arranged a marriage between his social-climbing sister Evadne and his best friend Amintor - a power move to protect the King's personal interests, which in hand also destroys Amintor's engagement to his long-time love, Aspatia. The Pocket Universe production reimagines the tragedy as a story of two sisters in present-day Hollywood - a now-female Melantius, film producer, and Evadne, actress - whose different attitudes about sex, fame, and honor collide in the wake of their studio-king's misconduct. Careers are jeopardized and lives are threatened, as everyone contends with one question: when the person in power robs you of yours, how far will you go to get it back?

The Maid's Tragedy will feature Lighting Design by Christina F. Tang (Skin Flick City, A Language of their Own), Movement Direction by Valentine Aprile (Brilliant Traces), and Fight Direction by Ned Donovan (Angel on my Shoulder, Night of the Living Deb). Taylor Elise Keller* (Pocket Universe's Julius Caesar, The Woodsman) will serve as the production's Stage Manager.

Pocket Universe is a New York City-based theater and film Production Company, founded by Alyssa May Gold, dedicated to reconsidering and reimagining classic stories and conventions. Their 2017 production of Julius Caesar set in an all-girls high school was hailed by The New York Times as "a radical take on the tragedy... with the capacity to take women seriously at the heart of all,"and The Village Voice praised the production's "provocative staging that would leave the Bechdel test in its dust." Stage Buddy raved, "You're going to be hard-pressed to find a more unique, inventive staging of Shakespeare's political drama. The all-female cast feels like a breath of fresh air. Julius Caesar has never been so potent, so moving, or so riveting."

TICKETS AND SCHEDULE

Tickets for THE MAID'S TRAGEDY are on sale now here. The performance schedule is Tuesday-Sunday at 8PM.

Sydney Battle originated the role of Rachel in the world premiere of Nikkole Salter's Indian Head (Luna Stage). She has been seen in Bonnie's Last Flight (SPACE on Ryde Farm), performing at 54 Below, and in various short films and web series. A College of William & Mary grad (Government & Theatre, French minor), she has also received training at Stella Adler and is currently wrapping up classes at UCB. She can be found writing in her spare time. www.sydneybattle.com

Greg Carere is an actor and writer and is indescribably excited to be on stage with this unbelievably cool company. New York credits include: Pete Rex (59E59), The Improbable Fall... of John Law (Dreamscape), The Downtown Loop (3LD), Dead Special Crabs (Wide Eyed), If You Can Get to Buffalo (Incubator Arts), Cliff (Hazard Rep). Regional credits include: As You Like It (Brimstone Creek), Any Other Name (William Street Rep). On film: When the Night Rolls In, Lila's Ghost, Beautiful Accidents, Bar-Crossed Lovers. Love to his friends, family, and Rose.

Alyssa May Gold* Alyssa May Gold* is the founder/President of Pocket Universe. Her credits as an actress include Broadway: Arcadia, NY Theatre: Julius Caesar (Pocket Universe), Brilliant Traces (Art of Warr), Middle of the Night and Lemon Sky (Keen Company), Film/TV: Rebel in the Rye, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Taking Woodstock, "Law and Order: SVU" and "Ed." Her work as a producer includes the web series "You Made It Worse," (which she also wrote and directed), the indie feature Dream Years, and a season as the associate producer for BEDLAM. Alyssa holds a multidisciplinary BA from NYU Gallatin and an MA in Classical Acting from LAMDA. alyssamaygold.com

Aleca Piper is originally from D.C. and is a proud graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. She received her BFA in acting from SUNY Purchase. She is also a member of Story Pirates. She is passionate about creating new works and giving homage to the classics. Previous work includes: Official Lady of Missing You in Made to Dance in Burning Buildings, The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Speed in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Lucius in Julius Caesar, Antipholus of Syracuse in Comedy of Errors, Bertha Holly in Joe Turner's Come and Gone, The Maid in Red Cross, and Beulah Binnings in Orpheus Descending.

ERIN ROCHÉ* thrilled to be working with Pocket Universe! Regional credits include: All's Well That Ends Well, Othello, Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Winter's Tale, Pygmalion (The Old Globe), Heist!, Post Wave Spectacular (Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville), Henry

IV, pts. I & II (Actors' Shakespeare Project), Done (Providence Black Repertory) Television: "Forever" (ABC). Training: BA, Brown University. MFA, Old Globe/University of San Diego.

Michael Thatcher* is thrilled to be working with Pocket Universe! Off-Broadway: Julius Caesar (NYSF), The Time Machine (NYMF); Nat'l Tours: Guys & Dolls, A Christmas Story; NYC: TITAN Theatre Company, Hamlet Isn't Dead; Regional: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, Sacramento Music Circus, Seven Angels Theatre; TV: "Quantico" (ABC). MFA, University of Houston. Proud member of Actors' Equity. IG: @thatched44

LUCY GRAM is a director of theatre and film based in New York City. She has directed at the NYC Fringe Festival, the 29th Street Playwrights Collective, Jersey City Theatre Center, One Bird Productions, the Dramatists Guild of America, and more. As an assistant director, Lucy has worked with Lisa Peterson, Jessica Kubzansky, Joe Grifasi, and others at companies including Long Wharf Theatre, the Dallas Theater Center, and the Kitchen Theatre Company. She was the associate producer of 2017 Kennedy Center honoree Carmen de Lavallade's As I Remember It. Lucy is an LA native with a B.A. in Drama and English from Ithaca College.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

Photo: Aleca Piper, Michael Thatcher, Erin Roche, Alyssa May Gold, Greg Carere, Sydney Battle

Photo Credit: Ashley Garrett

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