THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN Gets Revived in NYC

New York Shakespeare Exchange revives William Shakespeare's rarely produced play THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN, adapted and directed by Ross Williams. THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING JOHN begins performances on Thursday, September 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, October 2. Press Opening is Sunday, September 18 at 8 PM. Performances are at the Access Theater (380 Broadway, at White Street. Via subway take the N, R, C, E, 6, J, Z to Canal). The performance schedule is Wednesday - Sunday at 8 PM. The regular ticket price is $18. For tickets, call Brown Paper Tickets on 1-800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit www.ShakespeareExchange.org.

An unscrupulous ruling class, a crippling lust for power and ever-shifting allegiances shake the very foundation of society during the troubled 13th Century reign of King John of England. Drama Desk Award-nominee Vince Gatton (The Temperamentals, Candy and Dorothy) leads an ensemble cast onto the battlefield of Shakespeare's rarely performed history play in this new adaptation by Ross Williams. NY Shakespeare Exchange's signature style explores Shakespeare's soaring poetry from two different angles, keeping one foot firmly planted in the blood and guts politics of medieval sovereignty while the other trudges into the celebrity-obsessed quagmire of the 21st Century.

Joining Mr. Gatton in the cast are Elizabeth Neptune, Carmen Meyers, Zac Hoogendyk, Chris Bresky, Philip Mutz, Joshua Jeffers, JC Vasquez, Chris Thorn, Leigh Williams, Katelin Wilcox, Christopher Michael McFarland and Kevin Brewer.

The creative team includes G. Warren Stiles (set and props) and Kristine Koury (costumes). The video producer is Charles Q. Drexler. Fight choreography is by
Alicia Rodis. The dramaturg is Shane Breaux.
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Ross Williams (director) founded New York Shakespeare Exchange in 2009 as a vehicle for engaging new audiences with classical theater. He is a director, teacher and performer committed to the development of highly theatrical work. Onstage, he most notably originated the role of Gimli the battle axe-wielding dwarf in the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings musical extravaganza in Toronto.

New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX) offers innovative theatrical programming that explores what happens when contemporary culture is infused with Shakespearean poetry and themes in unexpected ways. Providing fresh points of entry to the work so that modern audiences will be exposed to the intrinsic power of Shakespeare, NYSX's goal is to encourage an enthusiastic appreciation of classical theater and to expand the reach of the art form within new and existing audiences. New York Shakespeare Exchange premiered in spring 2010 as part of the HEREstay residency program at HEREArts with The One Man (Two Man (not quite)) Hamlet by Kevin Brewer.