Posted March 31, 2009

New Productions of Hamlet and Much Ado about Nothing planned for Summer Season

Troy, NY, March 27, 2009— Bakerloo Theatre Project will present The Hamlet Project, adapted by Adam Mathias from the play by William Shakespeare, in repertory with Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, beginning July 17th on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. 2009 marks Bakerloo’s tenth season of presenting innovative interpretations of classic plays in the capital region.

“To celebrate our tenth season, we are focusing on our favorite playwright, William Shakespeare. This summer is the epitome of our mission- theatre that is creative, unexpected and accessible to audiences. We feel we have carved out a distinct place in the region's arts community by producing high quality low cost productions of the greatest plays in the canon. Bakerloo will continue to keep ticket prices low so that a wide range of audiences can continue to enjoy these great plays,” said William Addis, Bakerloo’s artistic director.

The season will begin with a world premiere adaptation of Hamlet, created by award winning playwright Adam Mathias (See Rock City and Other Destinations, The Passion of George W. Bush). The Hamlet Project is a thrilling examination of perhaps the finest play in the English language through the unique lens of a 21st century theatre maker. Challenging theatre conventions and focusing on the power of storytelling, the impressive cast features just four actors, including Bakerloo favorites Sarah Murphy and Gwyn Hervochon, who have appeared in all of Bakerloo's thirteen previous productions in the region, as well as Joe McGranaghan (Ariel in The Tempest, Banquo in Macbeth). Hamlet Project opens on Friday, July 17th and runs through Thursday, July 30th. The production will be directed by William Addis, who has previously helmed highly acclaimed productions of The Tempest, Macbeth, Antigone, Design for Living, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Twelfth Night for Bakerloo.

Presented in repertory with The Hamlet Project, Much Ado about Nothing will appear on the Bakerloo stage for the second time, the first since 2001. Shakespeare's famed battle of the sexes is a joyous celebration of the irresistible draw of the call of love. The production will star Marsha Harman, who earned raves last season as Madame Raneveskaya in Cherry Orchard, as Beatrice. Much Ado will feature Bakerloo’s acclaimed ensemble under the direction of Associate Artistic Director Ryan Howe. Howe, who earned raves last season for his interpretation of Cherry Orchard, has also directed The Imaginary Invalid, Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Bakerloo. Much Ado about Nothing runs from July 24-August 1.

In addition to these productions, Bakerloo’s season will feature annual favorites like audience talks, pub nights, and the Fourth Annual Shakespeare in the Pork, plus additional special events and celebrations in honor of the tenth season.

Bakerloo Theatre Project is in residence at Academy Hall on the campus of RPI. The Hamlet Project will be performed July 17, 18, 19, 22, 23 and 30th at 7PM, with a special matinee on July 25th 2PM. Much Ado about Nothing will be performed on July 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and August 1 at 7PM. Tickets are $16 each. Visit www.bakerloo.org for information about discount tickets and group rates.

Wednesday nights are "Pay What You Can" performances (ranging from a dollar up). The "Hamlet: What Dreams May Come" Pay What You Can performance is Wednesday July 22 at 7pm and for "Much Ado About Nothing" on Wednesday, July 29 at 7 pm. The "pay what you can" offer is only available at the box office and credit cards are not accepted. Reservations can be made at (518) 892-2241. "This merry band has dedicated itself to blowing the accrued academic dust off classics and injecting them with new energy and new insight" The Troy Record (Troy, NY)

"The best thing about Bakerloo's production is that it neither merely interprets dialogue nor tries to reinterpret it, but rather builds on the wonderful foundation of the playwright's words."- The Albany Times-Union

It is the mission of Bakerloo Theatre Project to present vital, intelligent productions of Shakespeare's canon and other classic works by serving as a home to up-and-coming professional theatre artists of the highest caliber. Through performance and education, Bakerloo produces high-quality, low-cost, innovative theatre that shuns pretense so that a new generation of audiences will see theatre as a dynamic, accessible and inclusive experience.

Since 2000, Bakerloo Theatre Project has produced a summer theatre residency in the capital region of New York State. Beginning as a brief retreat for early career actors from New York City the residency has developed into a precious sanctuary for emerging theatre artists from around the country. In ten years, Bakerloo Theatre Project has provided over 100 actors, directors, designers and stage managers the opportunity to work on the greatest plays in the dramatic canon in a focused, intensive setting. As a result, Bakerloo Theatre Project has become a summer tradition in the capital region. Audiences looking for intelligent, athletic and literate productions appreciate Bakerloo's style. Augmenting our summer productions, Bakerloo produces many readings, workshops and educational programs, including an ongoing curriculum-based scene study project—first produced for the cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point—while serving as a hothouse for the development of new interpretations of classic texts. Bakerloo has also participated in Troy Night Out, the Victorian Stroll and the Troy Food and Film Festival and conducts the weekly Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl.

Bakerloo Theatre Project’s 2009 season is made possible in part through COMMUNITY ART$GRANTS, a program funded through the State and Local Partnership of the New York State Council on the Arts and The Arts Center of the Capital Region. Bakerloo is grateful to the continued in- kind support of the Student Union of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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