The Acting Loft presents the classic gender-wars comedy, TAMING OF THE SHREW!
MANCHESTER – The Acting Loft Academy of Performing Arts, Manchester's Educational Theatre, is proud to be staging the world's most famous "gender-wars" comedy, "the Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, May 9th – 18th. The production stars two NH favorites in their Acting Loft debuts, Kimberly Miller and Scott Katrycz.
In the play that inspired every "battle of the sexes" story to come down the pike, "Taming of the Shrew" pits the sharp-tongued Katherine (Miller) against the lion-taming Petruccio (Katrycz). When Katherine's father Baptista declares that none shall marry his younger daughter, Bianca, until the elder sister is wed – Bianca's suitors search for a man willing and/or crazy enough to pursue the venomous vixen. Petruccio takes the challenge, hoping to win a large dowry. Katherine, however, has other plans.
Miller and Katrycz are joined by a large cast of local talent in creating this no-holds-"bard" comedy, and work under the direction of Phillip Allen, whose take on the script is sure to delight and entertain all those audience members who dread "stuffy" Shakespeare.
"We scheduled auditions for the week of Valentine's Day, and are performing the play on Mother's Day, so yeah … we haven't shied away from the political incorrectness of this show" said John Sefel, Producing Artistic Director of the Acting Loft. "The worst stereotypes of women AND men are gleefully played out on the stage. Does staging 'Taming of the Shrew' put a theatre at risk of offending a few overly-sensitive people? I sure hope so!"
Taming of the Shrew runs Friday and Saturday, May 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 7:30pm, with special matinee performances on Sunday, May 11 and 18 at 2pm. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students, and are available online at http://www.actingloft.org, or at the door on the day of the show. All performances will be held at the Acting Loft Academy of Performing Arts, 516 Pine Street, Manchester NH 03104
When asked for any parting thoughts, Sefel said "There's going to be thousands of people in a few weeks wondering what to do for their mums throughout Mother's Day weekend. My suggestion? Go classy – buy them some Chocolates from Van Otis, then bring them to the Acting Loft for some theatre … and keep telling them that you think they're FAR more like Bianca than Kate, and avoid chuckling as you do so."
Mothers (and all others) will delight in Shakespeare's comedy, "The Taming of the Shrew," performing May 9th – 18th at the Acting Loft Academy of Performing Arts in Manchester. For more information, call 603-666-5999, or visit http://www.actingloft.org.