Plays & Players Perform LAND OF THE DEAD 3/12-28

Plays & Players, Center City Philadelphia's longest continually operated theater at 1714 Delancey Place, will perform the East Coast Premiere of William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead, by John Heimbuch, running March 12-28 on its Mainstage. A true and accurate account of the 1599 zombie plague that spread to the Globe Playhouse, William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead mixes humorous horror conventions with meticulously researched characters and events from Shakespeare's life. With historical characters including Francis Bacon, Richard Burbage, and Queen Elizabeth joined together to battle zombies, Land of the Dead deftly crosses genres with a knowing wink.

John Heimbuch is co-Artistic Director of Walking Shadow Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is a writer, director, and actor. He starred as William Shakespeare in the World Premiere Production of William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead, which became the best sell show of the 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival. He is an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab 2007, where he introduced the play to fellow alumnus Daniel Student, a member of the Executive Committee of Plays & Players, who will be performing as Shakespeare in the Philadelphia production. Land of the Dead will be directed by Bill Egan, President of Plays & Players, who most recently directed the Philadelphia premiere of Hugging the Shoulder for Represented Theatre Co.

The additional cast of Land of the Dead includes Ryan Walter, Paul McElwee, David Stanger, Tom Blair, Peter Danzig, Tanya Lazar, Molly Casey, Dan Higbee, Nick Troy, Mugambi Nthiga, and an ensemble of zombies and soldiers.

Performances are slated for March 12 through 28, Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm, with tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the door. March 12 is a pay-what-you-can-preview performance, and March 14 and 21 feature additional Midnight productions with tickets only $10 (with a free drink coupon if attendees come dressed in zombie or Shakespearean costume). Group tickets are available at $10 for groups of 10 or more; $5 for groups of 50 or more. All performances will be given in Plays & Players Mainstage on the first floor at 1714 Delancey Place (between Spruce & Pine Streets). Tickets may be purchased at www.playsandplayers.org or by calling (800) 595-4TIX. For further information, call (215) 735-0630.

In celebration of the 510th Anniversary of the Zombie Plague, Plays & Players will offer a variety of events as part of its Zombiedelphia Month in March, including weekday Zombie Happy Hour appearances at Center City bars, a Zombies v. Vampires party on March 6, and its Mmmmmm Brains New Play Festival on March 13 and 20 immediately following the 8pm performance of Land of the Dead. More information about Zombiedelphia can be found at www.playsandplayers.org/zombies.php. Follow a blog of the production at zombiedelphia.wordpress.com.
ABOUT PLAYS & PLAYERS
Plays & Players is celebrating its 97th Season of performance in Philadelphia. Located in the historic Plays & Players Theatre at 1714 Delancey Place, which includes two performance spaces, Plays & Players offers year-round memberships that include both social and entertainment possibilities. To learn more about memberships or William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead go to www.playsandplayers.org or call (215) 735-0630.

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA THEATRICAL SUPPLY
PTS is your Philadelphia source for high quality theatrical products by industry leading manufacturers. In their Center City showroom, they currently stock, or can immediately order, almost anything used on a production.

 

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