Brave Spirits Theatre Announces Its 2016-2017 Season

Brave Spirits Theatre, the Washington DC metropolitan area's premier producer of little-known early modern plays, is proud to announce its 2016-2017 season of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford, and A King and No King by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher.

This fall BST brings Alexandria, Egypt, to Alexandria, VA, with Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. The epic story of two lovers torn between their passions for each other and their duties to their countries is BST's offering in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Directed by Artistic Director Charlene V. Smith, Antony and Cleopatra features BST Associate Artist Jessica Lefkow as the famous Egyptian pharaoh. Performances run from September 14 - October 1, 2016.

Our season repertory continues the theme of dangerous love with two couples defying the greatest of all taboos--incest. Brothers and Sisters fall in love with each other in two plays by Shakespeare's contemporaries:'Tis Pity She's a Whore, directed by Charlene V. Smith, and the DC-area premiere of A King and No King, directed by Cassie Ash. Performances run March 30 - April 23, 2017.

'Tis Pity She's a Whore by John Ford:

What if Romeo and Juliet were brother and sister? That's the situation in John Ford's gruesome tragedy which still has the power to shock audiences today. Giovanni and Annabella's forbidden love is threatened by the many suitors vying for Annabella's hand in marriage, as well as by a pregnancy resulting from their incestuous relationship. The play also contains a vengeful cast-off mistress, a young rich fool, and a devious Spanish servant. Unstoppable passion meets murderous misogyny in this controversial and electrifying play, starring BST Artistic Associates Jenna Berk and Danny Cackley.

A King and No King, by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher:

Two kings--one victorious, one defeated--arrive in Iberia. Triumphant Arbaces intends to marry his prisoner to his sister, the beautiful princess Panthea, until an incestuous passion threatens to overcome Arbaces' reason. Panthea is likewise under the spell of forbidden love, though her virtue restrains the would-be lovers... until the truth of their genetic relationship is revealed. Added to their star-crossed story are: a devoted wife posing as a servant, a braggart soldier, a murderous queen-mother, duels, punning citizens, and a metric ton of slippery logic. Brave Spirits is excited to be the first professional theatre company in the DC metropolitan area to produce A King and No King.

Performances will take place at the Lab at Convergence at 1819 N. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22302. Tickets for Antony and Cleopatra are $25. Tickets for the Spring Rep are $20 per show or you can see both shows for $30. Tickets can be bought the door or at www.bravespiritstheatre.com.

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