Medicine Show Theatre Presents Mummers' Play PRINCE GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, Now thru 1/6

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, will stage a winter theater comedy tradition A Mummers' Play: Prince George and the Dragon. Previews are set for tonight, Dec. 20, 2012; Friday Dec. 21, 2012; and Saturday Dec. 22, 2012 all at 7:30 p.m. There is no performance on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 and the closing performance is on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013.

Performances will run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. There are no performances on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The theatre is located at 549 W. 52nd Street, 3rd Floor, near 11th Ave., New York, NY 10019, subway C/E 50th St.

Medicine Show artistic director Obie-award winner Barbara Vann will appear in and directs the production. Other cast members are Cari Bell, David Elyha, Mark Gering, Beth Griffith, Richard Gross, Renee Hermiz, EVan Kaplan, Richard Keyser and Jatin Saraf.

The show harkens back to the medieval English tradition of mumming, where a band of players would bring laughter and merriment to the crowds as dark nights grew colder and longer. For Spring to bloom, a ritual battle and death would occur, followed by a resurrection and a riotous marriage ceremony. This script is based on the ancient tale of Prince George and the Dragon, with a contemporary interpretation fun for children and adults alike. Over the years, Medicine Show has performed the piece from New York to Europe. Venues have included NYC's Citicorp Atrium, the New York Public Library stairs and Central Park and Europe's International Christmas Festival in Nancy, France. There, L'Est Republicain newspaper called the production, "A great roar of laughter that bounded down the precipice of the absurd. "

Medicine Show is in the midst of producing a series of classic comedies, all of which have been great fun. Over the past year, Curtain Up called Cole Porter's Fifty Million Frenchmen, "non-stop frivolity." New York Theater Buying Guide said of Cole Porter's Paris, "Exhilarating... Our highest recommendation." And Time Out listed 1728's The Beggar's Opera as "an old Gay time" (a reference to the writer John Gay and the show's high comedy).

Tickets are $10.00 for general admission. Tickets are available from Smarttix at www.Smarttix.com or (212) 868-4444. Group rates are available by calling the theater directly at (212) 262-4216. For more information, log onto the company's website at www.MedicineShowTheatre.org.

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