Portland Shakespeare Project presents an ambitious second summer of producing with The Season of Lear -- two shows, playing in rotating repertory. The Season of Lear includes an inventive adaptation of William Shakespeare's King Lear written by award-winning local playwright C.S. Whitcomb, and a startling new staging of Shakespeare's classic King Lear using only six actors and keeping the original text intact. This season of passion and adventure will begin tonight, July 11 with Lear's Follies and on July 18 with King Lear. Both shows play on the Morrison Stage at Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison Street, Portland, Oregon, through August 5.
Lear's Follies is set in a Virginia tobacco empire family in 1929; the play explores issues of pride, greed, friendship, devotion and the choices people make in their lives that keep them emotionally shackled to their past. This modern adaptation of King Lear by C.S. Whitcomb brings humor and perspective to the classic Shakespeare tragedy without losing its core power.
For more about Lear's Follies, click here.
The story of King Lear, directed by Jon Kretzu, will be told in an imaginative restaging using only six actors, while keeping all of Shakespeare's original language and imagery.
For more about King Lear, follow this link.
Lear's Follies and King Lear will be presented in rotating repertory on the Morrison Stage at Artists Repertory Theatre. Lear's Follies opens tonight, July 11 and run through August 5. King Lear will open on July 18 and run through August 4. Performance times for both shows are Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Single ticket prices are $30 for adult tickets and $18 for student tickets. Adult ticket prices for both shows, when purchased at the same time, are $50. Please see www.portlandshakes.org for exact dates and times of performances and for ticket sales.
Intimate and informative talkback discussions will follow all Saturday and Sunday matinee performances. These talk-backs will provide opportunity to discuss the production, ask questions and learn more about the show.
Both shows play Artists Repertory Theatre, Morrison Stage, located at 1515 SW Morrison St, Portland, Ore. For tickets, call 503.313.3048 or go online HERE.
Portland Shakespeare Project is a nonprofit theatre company dedicated to educating, enriching and entertaining audiences by producing classical works and contemporary works associated with classical material. Portland Shakespeare Project is committed to using dedicated, professional, local actors and technicians.
Portland Shakespeare Project offers classes and educational programs for students, actors and audience members designed to raise proficiency, broaden knowledge and enrich understanding of classical material and contemporary works which honor the traditions of classical theatre.
Portland Shakespeare Project was formed by Michael Mendelson and Karen Rathje to bring high quality and innovative interpretations of both classic works of theatre and modern works associated with classical material to Portland audiences. Last year, more than 1,700 people enjoyed PSP's entertaining inaugural production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It.
* Member of Actors Equity Association
Photo credit: David Kinder
Videos