The Spanish Tragedie by Thomas Kyd, Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, October 17 - November 9, 2013

(www.thebaronsmen.org)

by Michael Meigs

Villainy was afoot and revenge was hot at the tidy Elizabethan-style Curtain Theatre on opening weekend, but Karen insisted that I bundle up as if I was going hiking in the winter mountains. And she was right; the temp must have sunk to around 50 F. by the time C. Robert Stevens as Hieronimo had coaxed the malefactors at the Spanish courtinto the play-within-a-play that's the climax of The Spanish Tragedie.

This costume drama by Thomas Kyd leaves almost as many dead and dying littered about the stage as Shakespeare did, between ten and twenty years later, at the conclusion of Hamlet . Kyd's work established the fashion for the revenge tragedy and endured on the Elizabethan and Jacobean stages until the Puritans shut the theatres in 1642.

Robert Stevens (photo: The Baron's Men)

The Baron's Men in Austin are proud to claim that theirs is the first 'original practices' staging in North America of this influential work that comes close to the status of a classic. As usual, they do a gorgeous job of it. The bare boards of that Elizabethan stage become a display case for lots of actors wearing the creations of some of the town's most accomplished costumers. Cherie Weed's casting and energetic direction keep the Tragedie lively throughout, a surprising and gratifying blend of comedy and revenge. The company enjoys its pre-Halloween shiver-makers -- they have twice staged their own compendium titled Medieval Macabre -- and this lengthy but never dull evening fits very well into the run-up to Halloween. Not least because it features the hovering figures of Death (Jennifer Fielding) and Revenge (Leanna Homquist) throughout the action.

Kyd was certainly playing to his public when he situated these elaborate deceits and plots at the Spanish court. Londoners feared and hated the Spanish, who sought to attack England with their glorious armada in 1588 (within five years, plus or minus, of the play's first staging). The playwright presents a triumphant Spanish king (Michael Saenger) who has just defeated the Portuguese, taking prisoner Crown Prince Balthazar. With Spain's dominion reasserted, the court is eager to unite the two kingdoms with an arranged marriage between the Portuguese Prince and Bel-Impera, Spain's lovely royal niece.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com. . . .

Auditions for Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, Baron's Men, November 6 and 9, 2013

The Baron’s Men company is looking for actors ages 18 and up for its spring 2014 production of Romeo and Juliet. Auditions will be held at The Curtain Theatre on Wednesday, November 6, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, November 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with callbacks on Saturday, November 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.


Actors are asked to prepare a 1-2 minute monologue from any early modern drama. Sides from the play will be provided at auditions. Please bring a resume and head shot or a recent snap shot. 


The role of Nurse has been precast. All other roles are open. Actors of all ethnic/racial backgrounds are encouraged to audition. Some roles will be considered for cross-gender casting. 


The play will be performed in a near uncut state, in period costumes and with period effects at The Curtain Theatre, an Elizabethan style outdoor theater approximately one third the size of London’s Globe Theatre.


Rehearsals are scheduled to start in mid-January. Performance dates are April 4, 5, April 11, 12, April 17, 18, 19, and April 24, 25, 26. Actor call times will be at 6:30 p.m. All shows will begin at 8 p.m.


Please e-mail audition@thebaronsmen.org to set up an audition appointment and include your date and time preference. If you are not able to audition on these dates, let us know and we will find an alternative time slot for you.


Are you interested in working as stage crew, or helping with costumes and props?The Baron’s Men work to provide a total experience. We are always looking for volunteers to assist with costumes, props, parking, vending, and much more. If you would like to help out, please contact audition@thebaronsmen.org and let us know what interests you.

THE SPANISH TRAGEDIE by Thomas Kyd, Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, October 20 - November 9, 2013

[performing at the Curtain Theatre, Garriot estate, 7400 Coldwater Canyon -- click for map]

present











directed by Cherie Weed 

Thomas Kyd’s groundbreaking play of murder and revenge
Thursdays-Saturdays, October 17, 2013 through November 9, 2013
Pre-show starts at 7:30 pm; Show starts at 8 pm
at The Curtain Theater, 7400 Coldwater Canyon - click for map

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Auditions for The Spanish Tragedie by Thomas Kyd, Baron's Men, May 2 - 4, 2013

The Spanish Tragedie is an Elizabethan tragedy written by Thomas Kyd between 1582 and 1592. Highly popular and influential in its time, The Spanish Tragedie established a new genre in English theatre, the Revenge Play or Revenge Tragedy. Containing several violent murders and a wide variety of characters, personifications and dumb shows, The Spanish Tragedy was often referred to (or parodied) by other Elizabethan playwrights, including William Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and Christopher Marlowe.


The Baron’s Men will perform The Spanish Tragedie at The Curtain Theater in October/November of 2013. This show will be performed in a near uncut state, in period costumes, and with period effects.


Audition Information

The Baron’s Men are looking for men and women ages 18 and up. The roles of Bel-Imperia and Isabella are pre-cast. All other roles are open.


To view the cast list, download a free script or get more information, click here!


Actors should prepare a 1-2 minute monologue.


Please email audition@thebaronsmen.org to set up an audition appointment with your preference of a north or south date/time (see audition dates and locations below). If you are unable to make the Thursday/Friday audition dates, let us know and we will find an alternative time slot for you.


Audition dates: 
May 2, 2013 (North Austin location) – Time slots begin at noon with evenings available

May 3, 2013 (South Austin Location) - Time slots begin at noon with evenings available

May 4, 2013 – Callbacks – (Central Austin location)

Rehearsals will begin in late August.


Performance Information

Actor and crew call times will begin at 6:30pm. October 17, 18, 19; October 24, 25, 26; October 31, November 1, 2; November 7, 8, 9

All shows will begin at 8pm. Run time will be approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission.


Crew Information

Are you interested in working as stage crew, or helping with costumes and props? The Baron’s Men work to provide a total experience. We are always looking for volunteers to assist with costumes, props, parking, vending, and much more. If you would like to help out, please contact audition@thebaronsmen.org and let us know what interests you.

Production for The Spanish Tragedie begins in May 2013.


Production staff:

Director - Cherie Weed; Producer - Katy Thompson; Stage Manager – Chris Casey; Make-up and Effects – Sarah Lee Schroeder

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare, the Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, April 5 - 27, 2013

[performing at the Curtain Theatre, Garriot estate, 7400 Coldwater Canyon -- click for map]

present

The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare, April 5 - 27, 2013
at the Curtain Theatre, Austin, TX


 




(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Baron's Men Auditions for The Merchant of Venice, November 10 - 11

Greetings! Auditions for The Baron's Men's spring 2013 production of The Merchant of Venice will be held on Saturday, November 10 from 9 am-2pm and Sunday, November 11 from 9am-5pm at the Curtain Theater. If you are interested in auditioning, please send an e-mail to: producer@thebaronsmen.org .

Video Promo by Chris Eckert: Medieval Macabre by the Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, Octobner 5 - 27

A video by Chris Eckert for the fall production by

 of

 
 Medieval Macabre
 

Oct 5 - 27 - Fridays and Saturdays; Oct 18 & 25 - Thursday performances

Shows will be at The Curtain Theater located at 7400 Coldwater Canyon Dr., Austin, TX, 78730 (click for map)

More info can be found here: www.thebaronsmen.org

Upcoming: Medieval Macabre, The Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, October 5 - 27

 

present

Medieval Macabre

at the Curtain Theatre, 7400 Coldwater Canyon (click for map)

Show times are Fridays & Saturdays, October 5th – October 27, and Thursday performances, October 18 and October 25. Malady Marketplace and Box Office open at 7 p.m.

Two road weary travelers seek shelter from an impending storm in a country estate. The owner is a man with true insight into the supernatural. They soon find themselves engaged in a literary debate with their accommodating yet mysterious host. A wager is set and the travelers begin a harrowing journey through the library of this eccentric man; a journey that will take them further into the depths of evil than they could have ever foreseen.

The wager: Can literature be frightening?

The Baron’s Men invite you to tread bravely through this original work. They will present you with the supernatural, the superstitious, and the super psychotic that riddle the pages of time. You will find you are face to face with a werewolf, a troll, ghosts, demons, and deranged humans with inner demons of their own.

This fast paced, visually exciting play will thrill you and make you rethink literary legends. The event will take place at The Curtain Theater, the only Elizabethan style theater in in Austin. You will set forth on your adventure down a winding road that leads you to a magical place hidden away under 100 year old pecan trees on the shores of Lake Austin. The mischief, mayhem, and ghoulish goodies will set the tone in the Malady Marketplace preceding the show. An evening truly unique and startling awaits you, if you dare.


For more information and tickets purchased on line please visit us at www.thebaronsmen.org or you may purchase tickets at the Box Office. Credit cards are now accepted at the door. Ticket costs are $15 for General Admission and $12 for Students and Seniors. The Curtain Theater is located at 7400 Coldwater Canyon, Austin, TX 78730.

(Click to go to the AustinLiveTheatre front page)

Upcoming: The Alchemist by Ben Jonson, The Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, April 12 - 28

present

The Alchemist

by Ben Jonson

directed by Casey Weed

April 12 – 28, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, Curtain 8 p.m.
at the Curtain Theater, 7400 Coldwater Canyon (click for directions and map)

Tickets $15 general admission, $12 for students and seniors

Tickets are available on-line

Greed, Sex, Lust, Gambling, Prostitution and Flim-flam; the themes of Ben Jonson’s popular comedy ring out as commonly today as they did to the audiences of Shakespeare’s time. As April weather heats up, so does the stage at Richard Garriott’s Curtain Theater beautiful Lake Austin, as The Baron’s Men perform Jonson’s famous play The Alchemist with all of its original bawdy and gritty action and dialogue.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Austin Artists Nominated for 2011 Falstaff Awards, PlayShakespeare.com

The website www.PlayShakespeare.com has released the nominations and winners for its 2011 Falstaff awards honoring achevements in the production of Shakespeare and Shakespeare scholarship. Five Austin area artists are among those nominated, three of them for their work on Austin Shakespeare's Hamlet with Helen Merino.

PlayShakespeare.com writes,

Sweeping the awards with 8 wins and 1 nomination this year was the highly acclaimed Sleep No More, a collaboration with Punchdrunk and Emursive. An entire New York City building was transformed into an theatrical experience of Macbeth like no other. With over 100 rooms, sold out audiences donned eerie masks and experienced a highly choreographed performance close up, even interacting with the actors themselves. A Hitchcockian flair to sets, music, and lighting earned Felix Barrett and Maxine Doyle awards for Best Director, Best Set Design and Best Lighting Design. Top honors for Best Principal Performance (Male and Female) went to Nicholas Bruder and Sophie Bortolussi.

Austin area artists appearing on the list:

Best Principal Performance, Male: Philip Kreyche as Othello for his No'Az Productions

Best Scenic Design: Marketa Fantova for As You Like It, Texas State University (now at Alfred University, New York)

Best Lighting Design: Jason Amato, Hamlet, Austin Shakespeare (click to view dress rehearsal images by Kimberley Mead)

Best Cosume Design: Pam Fletcher Friday, Hamlet, Austin Shakespeare

Best Choreography or Fight Direction: Toby Minor, Hamlet, Austin Shakespeare (click to view Austin Shakespeare video including brief excerpts of the final duel)

AustinLiveTheatre.com also nominated Pam Martin and Dawn Allee for their costuming of Henry V by the Baron's Men, providing a link to the company's promotional video for the production. PlayShakespeare.com editors compared it with Kimberley Mead's portfolio of 53 images for Austin Shakespeare's Hamlet and decided to favor the work by Pam Fletcher Friday.

Click to view the announcement and link to the full list of nominees and awards at PlayShakespeare.com . . . .

Auditions for The Alchemist by the Baron's Men, November 5 and 6

Found at www.austinactors.net:

Auditions for Ben Jonson's The Alchemist spring 2012

The Baron's Men will be conducting auditions for Ben Jonson's The Alchemist at the Wells Branch Recreation Center in room #4 on Saturday, November 5th, and Sunday November 6th from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Head shots are welcome but not necessary. Auditions will consist of readings with other actors from selected scenes. If you have any Elizabethan monologues prepared as audition pieces, feel free to perform them (Shakespeare, Jonson, Marlow, Fletcher and Beaumont, et al). If you sing, please have a piece prepared; a cd player will be available for accompaniment. Wells Branch Recreation Center is located at 3000 Shoreline Dr., Austin, TX 78728 (click for map), tel. (512) 251-9814

This show is scheduled to run the last three weeks in April at the Curtain Theater. Rehearsals will be 1-3 days per week for the preceding 8 weeks depending on the role with two table readings prior to the first rehearsal. If you have not participated in a Baron's Men show you will need to meet your assigned sponsor so please email or call as soon as possible.

For questions, sponsorship, and rehearsal slots: ltrezise@thebaronsmen.org

Audition sides are available here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/30079279771/ under the docs section of the Baron's Men Facebook page.

All roles are up for consideration and we are also seeking out musicians and dancers.

Click for descriptions of roles and further information at AustinLiveTheatre.com

Henry V by Shakespeare, The Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, September 30 - October 22

This Henry V by The Baron's Men is a feast for the eyes. The elaborate Elizabethan wardrobe of the company goes well with the gratifying outdoor setting of the Curtain Theatre, Richard Garriott's lakeside replica in miniature of the Globe. Costume designers Pam Martin and Dawn Allee are current nominees along with Jennifer Davis for Austin's B. Iden Payne stage award for outstanding costume design, for this company's 2010 production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. For Henry V they've outdone even that outstanding level of accomplishment.

Their program notes acknowledge the work and care that went into these recreations -- "the more than a dozen doublets designed and manufactured for this production, as well as several different designs of pants (trunk hose, venetians, and pumpkin hose). These clothes could not have been made without the dedication and love of the troupe members who donated many hours and some very late nights to complete the costuming."

The company establishes and sustains the Elizabethan illusion by placing cast members onstage both before the piece begins and during much of the intermission. Pikesmen station themselves on watch and parade to the beaten command of drums; Henry and his confederates stand at upper center stage studying a huge, meticulously designed map of the kingdoms on both sides of the Channel. At intermission the guard is again mounted, and Pistol sits moodily at the edge of the stage.

Read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Video: Henry V by the Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, September 30 - October 22

Found on-line:

present

Henry V

by William Shakespeare

at the Curtain Theatre, 7400 Coldwater Canyon (click for directions and link to map)

September 30 - October 22, 8 p.m.

General Admission $15, Students and Seniors $12

Click to purchase tickets on-line via Austix ($2.50 service charge per ticket)

Video by Chris Eckert Films:

Video Retro: Twelfth Night, The Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, May, 2011

Trailer by Chris Eckert for his DVD version of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, done by the Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, Austin, May 6 - 28, 2011:

The Baron's Men - 12th Night Trailer from Chris Eckert on Vimeo.

[APPLE users: can't see the video? Click to go to VIMEO.]

Auditions for Henry V, Baron's Men, May 25

Found at www.austinactors.net:

The Baron's Men will be hosting auditions for their fall production of

Henry V

by William Shakespeare

on Wednesday, May 25,at 7 p.m. at The Curtain Theater - 7400 Coldwater Canyon, Austin, Texas 78730 (Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/TheCurtainTheater)

Performance dates at the Curtain Theatre: Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, Oct. 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22, 2011 at 8 p.m.

The director is Garrison Martt.

All parts are currently available. If you are interested in auditioning or would like more information, please contact Liegh Hegedus, Producer at TBMProducer@gmail.com

Audition sides will be provided or you may perform any Shakespearean monologue. Please keep monologues under 2 minutes. Bring a headshot and resume if you have one, but they are not necessary. We look forward to hearing from you! Contact: Liegh Hegedus TBMProducer@gmail.com

Upcoming: Twelfth Night, Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, May 6 - 22

Received directly:

present

Twelfth Night

by William Shakespeare

Fridays & Saturdays, May 6 – May 28, 8 p.m.

The Curtain Theater

7400 Coldwater Canyon (click for map)

Coming off of their triumphant production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” last fall, The Baron’s Men are back with Shakespeare’s timeless comedy of mistaken identity, unrequited love and drunken buffoonery. Directed by Samantha Smith, this latest offering by The Baron’s Men features long time Baron’s Men players Casey Weed and Katrina O’Keefe and Austin theater mainstay Bridget Farias as the love triangle of Duke Orsino, Viola/Cesario and Countess Olivia. Rounding out the cast are Baron’s Men veterans Kevin Gates, Aaron Niemuth, Brian Martin and Liegh Hegedus and new Baron’s Men players J Nathan Day and Lindsay Palinsky.

This production, featuring live Elizabethan music, from Music Director Cherie Weed and authentic costumes from Costume Designer Pam Martin, presented in Austin’s only Elizabethan replica theater promises to deliver an evening of Shakespeare as only The Baron’s Men can deliver.

Click to read more and view links at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . .

Upcoming: The Comedy of Errors, Cedar Park High School at the Curtain Theatre, November 12 - 13

Found on-line:

The Comedy of Errors

presented by Cedar Park High School Theatre Department
12-13 November 2010
at The Curtain Theatre in collaboration with
The Baron's Men
information available at www.cphstheatre.org

The Comedy of Errors Cast

Derek Koh-Solinus, Duke of Ephesus
Zach Hawks-Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse
Jordan Fogle-Antipholus of Syracuse, twin to Antipholus of Ephesus
Courtney Anthony-Dromio of Syracuse, twin to Dromio of Ephesus
Tanner Dixon-Antipholus of Ephesus, twin to Antipholus of Syracuse
Madison Piner-Dromio of Ephesus, twin to Dromio of Syracuse
Donna Noorbakhsh-Adriana, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus
Milan Matute-Luciana, sister to Adriana
Chelsea Hollenbeck-Angelo, a goldsmith
Dave Hawks-A Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is debtor
Amanda Weston-A Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse/Nun
Donelvan Thigpen-An Officer
Robin Duffee-A Courtesan
Victoria Steele-Dr. Pinch, a conjurer
Urvashi Mitbander-Emilia, an abbess
Dylan Peck-Nell/Luce, unfeminine wife of Dromio of Ephesus
Chloe Busick, Cole Carey, Britney Wilkinson-Minstrels/Merchants/Guards/Nuns

Upcoming: The Comedy of Errors, Cedar Park High School at the Curtain Theatre, November 12 - 13

Found on-line:

The Comedy of Errors

presented by Cedar Park High School Theatre Department
12-13 November 2010
at The Curtain Theatre in collaboration with
The Baron's Men
information available at www.cphstheatre.org

The Comedy of Errors Cast

Derek Koh-Solinus, Duke of Ephesus
Zach Hawks-Egeon, a merchant of Syracuse
Jordan Fogle-Antipholus of Syracuse, twin to Antipholus of Ephesus
Courtney Anthony-Dromio of Syracuse, twin to Dromio of Ephesus
Tanner Dixon-Antipholus of Ephesus, twin to Antipholus of Syracuse
Madison Piner-Dromio of Ephesus, twin to Dromio of Syracuse
Donna Noorbakhsh-Adriana, wife to Antipholus of Ephesus
Milan Matute-Luciana, sister to Adriana
Chelsea Hollenbeck-Angelo, a goldsmith
Dave Hawks-A Second Merchant, to whom Angelo is debtor
Amanda Weston-A Merchant, friend to Antipholus of Syracuse/Nun
Donelvan Thigpen-An Officer
Robin Duffee-A Courtesan
Victoria Steele-Dr. Pinch, a conjurer
Urvashi Mitbander-Emilia, an abbess
Dylan Peck-Nell/Luce, unfeminine wife of Dromio of Ephesus
Chloe Busick, Cole Carey, Britney Wilkinson-Minstrels/Merchants/Guards/Nuns

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, September 24 - October 16

You've got only one weekend remaining of this delight, and the Baron's Men have even added a Thursday performance. Don't hesitate!

A Midsummer Night's Dream may well be Shakespeare's most familiar comedy. In his review of Austin theatre for the World Theatre Day celebration last April Robert Faires noted it as one of those plays that "circle round again and again like pop songs in heavy rotation." You have to admit it: he's right. The Tex-Arts youth program did the show ten days before his remarks, then Austin Shakespeare did it in Zilker Park with 1960's style pop music and just a couple of weeks ago the four traveling Actors from the London Stage did it at UT and out at Winedale. So we probably all know the text.

But this is not like watching re-runs of "I Dream of Jeannie." The familiar text is a springboard. The company of the Baron's Men bring that text to sparkling life in every aspect of their production.

Click to read more at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .

Images of Midsummer Night's Dream by the Baron's Men at the Curtain Theatre, September 24 - October 16

Images by Kimberley Mead and by Mark Vittek:

Magic, Mirth and Mayhem...

The Baron's Men is pleased to announce our re-telling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. This spectacularly beautiful production will include live music and dancing, rich Elizabethan costuming and masks, warring fairy armies, and fabulous magical effects all in a scale replica of the Globe Theater on the shores of Lake Austin.

The production runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00PM, September 24 through October 16 at The Curtain Theatre, with a Goblin Market showcasing local vendors and entertainers, nightly from 7:00PM - 8:00PM.

Appropriate for the entire family!

Click to view additional images of the Baron's Men production of Midsummer Night's Dream at AustinLiveTheatre.com . . . .