Upcoming: An All-Female Staged Reading of The Taming of The Shrew, Austin Shakespeare at the Curtain Theatre, March 25 - 27

Click for ALT review, March 26


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Austin Shakespeare presents an all female cast in

The Taming of the Shrew

A Slapstick Comedy for the Lighthearted
written by William Shakespeare, directed by Ann Ciccolella
Friday, March 25 – Sunday, March 27 at 8 p.m.
at Richard Garriott’s Curtain Theater on the shores of Lake Austin, 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr. (click to view Google map)
Tickets $24, available at www.nowplayingaustin.com or at the door.
Discount tickets available.
or follow Austin Shakespeare on Twitter: @austinshakes

After the success of packed houses during the run of Mary Stuart, Austin Shakespeare continues its 25th anniversary season with an all-female cast in a staged reading of the classic Shakespeare comedy. The Taming of the Shrew will play at Richard Garriott’s own Curtain Theater, a scaled replica of an Elizabethan outdoor theater nestled along the banks of Lake Austin, March 25 through 27 at 8 p.m.

“In Shakespeare’s time, only men were allowed on stage, even to play the female roles,” said Ann Ciccolella, artistic director of Austin Shakespeare. “We wanted to turn the tables and see a full cast of charismatic women to bring this comedy to life on a stage that resembles one of Shakespeare’s own.”

The story is based on the beautiful merchant’s daughter Bianca, and her admirers Lucentio, Gremio and Hortensio. Her father insists that she will not marry until her after her older, shrewish sister, Kate does, so Bianca's suitors persuade fortune-seeker Petruchio to court her. Bianca's suitors pay for any costs involved, even Kate's dowry, but Kate shows in no uncertain terms how opposed she is to marrying anyone.

The Taming of the Shrew is among one of Shakespeare’s earlier comedies and it shares characteristics with his other romantic comedies such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is lighthearted, with slapstick humor, disguises and deception, replete with a happy ending.

The Curtain Theater is located in the heart of Garriott’s Castleton Village that is tucked away in a pecan grove along Lake Austin and features a fort, ship, lighthouse and jail. The Curtain Theatre is off City Park Rd., near Rts. 2222 and 360. (click for Google map)

THE CAST for TAMING OF THE SHREW

Jill Swanson as Petruchio, Gwen Kelso as Kate; with Babs George, Jill Blackwood, Linda Nenno, Karen Jambon, Kara Bliss Galbraith, Bernadette Nason, Jenny Larson, and Mary Alice Carnes.

ABOUT AUSTIN SHAKESPEARE

Now in its 25th anniversary season, Austin Shakespeare (formerly Austin Shakespeare Festival) presents professional theater of the highest quality with an emphasis on the plays of William Shakespeare to Central Texas. Bringing to the public performances that are fresh, bold, imaginative, thought- provoking, and eminently accessible, Austin Shakespeare connects the truths of the past with the challenges and possibilities of today. Founded in 1984, Austin Shakespeare offers fall and spring sessions of "Shakespeare Studio," the organization’s professional actor training courses. In addition, actors, teachers, parents and students are welcome at the "Shakespeare Aloud" year-round weekly reading group. Austin Shakespeare also offers summer camps for high school students at St. Edward's University, and camps for children at Scottish Rite Children's Theatre, downtown. Austin Shakespeare is a member of the Austin Circle of Theatres, and is funded in part by the City of Austin through The Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.