Coronado Playhouse to Continue Free Classics with Shakespeare's HAMLET

Coronado Playhouse, celebrating their 70th year, continues their 20th Annual Free Classics tradition with the Shakespeare classic, Hamlet.

Considered Shakespeare's ultimate masterpiece and believed by many to be the greatest play written in the English language, Shakespeare's tragedy tells the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Hamlet is summoned home to the royal court to attend his father, the king's funeral, and witness his widowed mother's marriage to his uncle, Claudius, the newly self-crowned king. In a supernatural encounter with the ghost of his father, Hamlet becomes suspicious that his father was murdered by Claudius and sets about finding out the truth to avenge his father's death at the cost of almost every life on stage, including his own.

Local director and Coronado Playhouse board member Tom Haine directs this production giving the play a contemporary setting allowing audiences to easily identify with the characters, feel closer to Shakespeare's language and experiences the play's themes and emotions that run throughout. Haine has assembled a cast of local actors including both Coronado Playhouse favorites and others making their Playhouse debuts.

This year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and Coronado Playhouse is excited to be able to join with other arts organizations around the globe in celebrating the life and works of this master playwright and poet. Here in San Diego, a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio (the first collected edition of Shakespeare's works) is currently available for public view in the San Diego Central Library and open to the page displaying Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" speech.

The production team includes: Tom Haine (Director), Patricia Lynch (Assistant Director), Chris Powell (Producer), Jake Wascher (Fight Choreographer),Ryan Bresnahan (Sound Design) Josh Olmstead (Lighting Design), Jane Russell and Pat John (Costume), Kathy Parks (Stage Manager), Barron Henzel (Set Design) and Pamela Everett (Properties and Set Dressing).

The cast features: Julia Bodey (Rosencrantz), Laura Gracie (Player Queen), Andrew Gumm (Hamlet), Brody Gogatz (Marcellus / Captain / Reynaldo), Alejandro Gutierrez (Barnardo / Osric / Lucianus), Steven J. Jensen (Claudius), Cecily Keppel (Guildenstern), Raymond Lynch (Polonius), Chris Marler (Ghost/Priest), Samantha Schmidt (Ophelia), Susan Stratton (Gertrude), Jake Wascher (Laertes), Claire White (Gentlewoman / Player), Martin White (Player King / Gravedigger), Samuel Young (Horatio).

Coronado Playhouse is the Community's Theatre committed to using our public platform for quality entertainment and to help those in need. Throughout our season, we partner productions with established non-profit organizations to raise money and awareness. An annual grant from the City of Coronado allows us to present a classic play each year free to the public making theatre more accessible for educational purposes and pure enjoyment. We welcome donations to help us meet our growing budget requirements and encourage supporters to purchase Coronado Playhouse memberships affording them benefits that include voting rights, preferred seating and gift certificates that may be used throughout the season.

Coronado Playhouse is the oldest, longest continuously running community theatre in San Diego County and Coronado's oldest arts organization. The 2016 season marks 70 years of entertainment, service and outreach to Coronado and area audiences.

IF YOU GO:

HAMLET

DATES: July 15-August7, 2016

TIMES: Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m.

TICKETS: Free to the public with reservations required through the website. Free tickets are limited to 6 per person. For Hamlet, Coronado Playhouse will operate an open seating policy with the exception of season ticket holders and members who are required to make their reservations through the Box Office.

Contact the Coronado Playhouse Box Office at 619-435-4856 or go to our website at CoronadoPlayhouse.com

Cast and production members are available for interviews and video opportunities. Stills photography of the production will be provided upon request. Please contact the Box Office for specific media interest and needs. Coronado Playhouse is a qualified 501(c) 3 non-profit organization as San Diego County's longest continuously running community theatre.

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