Shakespeare in the Square's CORIOLANUS: FROM MAN TO DRAGON Starts Tonight

Shakespeare in the Square will present Coriolanus: From Man to Dragon - the debut production from the Combative Theatre Co. - for a limited engagement from tonight, November 4, through November 20.

The play by William Shakespeare is adapted by Omri Kadim and directed by Yuriy Pavlish. All performances take place at the new venue Italy Time Theatre (238 Bleecker Street, New York City).

Coriolanus: From Man to Dragon is Omri Kadim's bold new vision for Shakespeare's play that incorporates his love of language and brutal, unadulterated violence. "Shakespeare's Coriolanus is a taut, political play about a man who is more gifted with the sword than with a turn of phrase," says the show's director Yuriy Pavlish. "What better way to express the crucial dramatic moments than with combat, movement, and kinetic storytelling? As I explore this principle with our ensemble of stage combat experts and fight directors, I am amazed at how the emotional truth of Shakespeare's original work shines."

The cast includes Felix Birdie, Patricia Black, Teresa Catherine, Christopher Dooly, Omri Kadim, Logan McCoy, Oliver Palmer, Jefferson Reardon, CrisTina Ramos, and Dylan J. Sampson. The fight core features Olivia Boren, Carter Gaylord, Thomas Hedlund, Frankie Li and Daniel Napolitano.

The show has costume design by Fan Zhang, lighting design by Timothy Meola and set design by Collin Medford. Abigail Wahl serves as assistant director. Mitch McCoy is the fight director.

Coriolanus: From Man to Dragon from the Combative Theatre Co. will run at the Italy Time Theatre (238 Bleecker Street, New York City) from Friday, November 4 through Sunday, November 20. The performance schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM; Sunday at 2:00 PM; and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM. NOTE:There is no performance on Saturday, November 19. Tickets, which are $18 tickets, are available at www.shakespeareinthesquare.com.

COMBATIVE THEATER CO. is an ensemble theater company committed to exploring, interpreting and redefining theatre through stage combat. They explore the idea that stage combat can be more than a technical skill or theatrical device. It is a method of physical storytelling, under-utilized in Current Productions. Stage combat demands heightened energy and focus, and it is their mission to sustain this level of intensity through highly choreographed, physically rigorous productions. Combative Theatre Co. is committed to revitalizing classical and modern texts through motion, and strives to elevate the practice of stage combat from a tool to an artistic and educational endeavor.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE SQUARE (Producer) was founded in 2010 by Rose Bochner and Dan Hasse. It is the mission of the company to perform Shakespeare to the hilt, with a respect for the words and an awareness of original staging practices. SITS believes that his language still has the power to captivate a crowd without the use of elaborate sets or lighting effects; we trust the audience's imaginations to "piece out our imperfections." Above all else, the company strives to create shows that are fast, accessible, and precise.

Shakespeare in the Square's acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet last year was hailed as "full of zest and humor" by TheaterMania and "not to be missed" from Stage Buddy. Gay City News praised the "troupe's penchant for breaking rules and blasting expectations, all in service to making the Bard's work more accessible to the common folk."

After seeing a recent Shakespeare in the Square performance, Terrence McNally - the Tony and Emmy winning playwright - raved: "Washington Square Park is never more alive and enchanting than when these merry, nimble players are at work there. Shakespeare smiles." The organization was praised for its "presence and immediacy" by MCC Theater artistic diretor Will Cantler. For more, visit www.ShakespeareintheSquare.com.

YURIY PAVLISH (Director) is a stage director, actor, musician, digital media specialist, and producer based in New York City. He is the Managing Producer of Shakespeare in the Square, an innovative classical theater ensemble, and works extensively with Roll the Bones Theatre company as well as Madcap Repertory. Favorite shows in recent memory include The Lower Depths (Director), Shakespeare in the Square's debut Off-Broadway production, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Producer), and his role as Quince and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

MITCHELL MCCOY (Fight Director) is a professional fight director, actor, and Reiki Master in New York City. He has most recently worked on Thérése Raquin and Aladdin on Broadway, Aladdin for Japan, and the national tour of Newsies. He is recognized as a Certified Teacher by the Society of American Fight Directors, and is excited to explore the emotional intensity that the violence portrayed in Coriolanus will provide to the audience.

OMRI KADIM (Adaptation/Executive Producer/Cominius) was born in London, England and has since lived in Paris, Tel Aviv, Athens, Vienna and New York. A graduate of Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, he studied at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Shakespeare in Performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and TV/Film technique at the Stonestreet Studio. Omri has appeared as the Ghost in Hamlet, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Lodovico in Othello and many others. Omri has a passion for stage combat, has choreographed several shows, and has received reccommended passes from the SAFD in unarmed, sword and shield, rapier and dagger, and broadsword.

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