Aurora Theatre Company Extends David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT

Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 5 performances of David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT, a masterful reinvigoration of Jean-François Regnard's 1708 comedy about greed, love, and intrigue. Josh Costello (Detroit, Wittenberg) helms THE HEIR APPARENT, featuring Julian Lopez-Morillas, Kenny Toll, Patrick Kelly Jones, Elizabeth Carter, Lawrence Radecker, Khalia Davis, and Katie Rubin. THE HEIR APPARENT now plays through May 22nd (added performances: Tuesday, May 17, 7pm; Thursday, May 19, 8pm; Friday, May 20, 8pm; Saturday, May 21, 8pm; Sunday, May 22, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley For tickets ($32-50) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Penniless Eraste desperately wants to marry Isabelle, but first he needs to secure an inheritance from his elderly uncle, Geronte. The ailing Geronte, however, is not yet ready to be fitted for a shroud. In fact, he's ready to be measured for bridegroom's attire and is eager to marry Isabelle himself. The plot unravels as Eraste and his resourceful servants enact a series of increasingly absurd schemes to part the old man from his money and his life. The New York Times hailed THE HEIR APPARENT as "Boisterous, bawdy and endlessly funny... lavishly spiced with contemporary slang that springs from the prancing verse like little jack-in-the-boxes and never fails to delight," and the Washingtonian declared, "This over-the-top farce is clever, funny, and fast...a gem of a play." Commissioned by Shakespeare Theater Company in 2011, this comedy of avarice and errors is hell-bent on drawing laughs.

Chad Jones of the San Francisco Chronicle called THE HEIR APPARENT a "well-produced bauble, pure fun all the way to its ending," while Karen D'Souza at the San Jose Mercury News/Bay Area News Group declared, "The Aurora really hits the jackpot with this festival of hijinx," noting director Josh Costello "orchestrates the comedy like a symphony of silliness."

Jean Schiffman at the San Francisco Examiner called THE HEIR APPARENT "excellent...every detail strikes comic gold," while Leo Stutzin at the Huffington Post agreed, stating, "I don't recall a funnier show since my first viewing of 'Noises Off'... [I] strongly suggest that you see [THE HEIR APPARENT] for yourself, if you love to laugh."

Following THE HEIR APPARENT, Timothy Near makes her Aurora directing debut with the company's season closer in June, Athol Fugard's modern classic "MASTER HAROLD"... and the boys.

Voted Best Theater Company in 2012 by SF Weekly, Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theater. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, Aurora Theatre Company, declared "one of the best regional theaters around" by 7x7 magazine, has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" and "a must-see midsize company" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while The Wall Street Journal has "nothing but praise for the Aurora." The Contra Costa Times stated "perfection is probably an unattainable ideal in a medium as fluid as live performance, but the Aurora Theatre comes luminously close," while the San Jose Mercury News affirmed Aurora Theatre Company is "arguably the finest small theater in the Bay Area," and the Oakland Tribune stated "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS:

Critics and audiences agree: hip hip hooray for THE HEIR APPARENT! Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 5 performances of David Ives' (Venus in Fur, All in the Timing) masterful reinvigoration of Jean-François Regnard's 1708 comedy about greed, love, and intrigue. Josh Costello (Detroit, Wittenberg) helms THE HEIR APPARENT, featuring Julian Lopez-Morillas, Kenny Toll, Patrick Kelly Jones, Elizabeth Carter, Lawrence Radecker, Khalia Davis, and Katie Rubin.

DATES: playing now through May 22, 2016

added performances: Tuesday, May 17, 7pm; Thursday, May 19, 8pm; Friday, May 20, 8pm; Saturday, May 21, 8pm; Sunday, May 22, 2pm

Post-show Talkbacks: May 4, 12

SHOWS: Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm and 7pm

Added performances in bold

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

May 3

7pm

4

8pm

5

8pm

6

8pm

7

8pm

8

2pm

7pm

9

10

7pm

11

8pm

12

8pm

13

8pm

14

8pm

15

2pm

7pm

16

17

7pm

18

19

8pm

20

8pm

21

8pm

22

2pm

WHERE: Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA

TICKETS: For tickets ($32-50) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. Half-off tickets for Under 35, student, and group discounts available.

PHOTOS: High-resolution photos for THE HEIR APPARENT can be found at https://auroratheatre.org/index.php?option=com_theatre&view=press_show&id=118

or can be received as jpegs upon request by emailing elewis@auroratheatre.org

Aurora Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges Season Restaurant Sponsor Gecko Gecko and Season Floral Sponsor Darling Flowers for their support.

Aurora Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges Sponsors Cindy and Stephen Snow and Associate Sponsors Ellen and Barry Levine, Paul Templeton and Darrell Louie, and Carol and Joe Neil for their support.

Aurora Theatre Company gratefully acknowledges the following foundations and government agencies for their support: Actors' Equity Foundation, Alameda County Arts Commission, Berkeley Civic Arts Program & Civic Arts Commission, East Bay Community Foundation, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Thomas J. Long Foundation, The Sam Mazza Foundation, The Bernard Osher Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Shubert Foundation, Twanda Foundation, The Wood Foundation, and The Zellerbach Family Foundation.

--30--

To post a comment, you must register and login.