What happens when Sycamore Rouge presents classic Shakespeare? 
The world will find out on Friday, July 28th, 2006 at 8pm when "Taming of the Shrew" opens
   

    Taming of the Shrew, written in 1594, is the story of the "Shrew," Katherina Minola, the eldest daughter of Baptista Minola, a merchant in Padua. Pretty, though not beautiful, her temper is extremely volatile and no man can control her. Her younger sister, Bianca Minola, is docile, beautiful, and much sought after by the noble men of the town. Baptista has sworn not to allow his younger daughter to marry before Katherina is wed. Bianca has several suitors, and two of them agree that they will work together to marry off Katharina so that they will be free to compete for Bianca. Who will win Bianca’s love and who is destined to "Tame" the headstrong Katherina?

    While it is usually performed with a cast of eleven men and three women, Sycamore Rouge's production has a cast of 4 women who will play the two traditional female parts, Katherina and Bianca, along with two of the leading servants, Grumio and Tranio. All of the other male parts will be performed with puppets, which Armstrong has created with the talented help of local artist Susan Brown.

    "Casting the men as puppets allows us to carefully examine the themes of manipulation that course through the script. Who controls who? Does Bianca manipulate her father or he her? It’s great fun."  comments Armstrong

    Sycamore Rouge's Executive Director Christopher Shorr adds, “…Audiences have ample opportunity to experience traditional presentations of Shakespeare. I’m pleased to provide an alternative. Examining classical texts and finding new approaches to them is one of the things I like most as a director and producer. Robin Armstrong and I work well together—I’m confident that this collaboration will yield a very exciting production that audiences will enjoy.”

    Originally from Texas, Robin studied Directing at Virginia Commonwealth University and currently resides in her hometown of Dallas. She is the Resident Director of Theatre Britain and along with being an award winning costumer she is a critically acclaimed Violence Designer and Playwright, (her script Smoldering Ember will be performed in Chicago later this month).

    The cast includes Sunny LaRose of Fredericksburg, Amy Wolf of Fredericksburg, Kirstin Riiber of Richmond and Beth VonKelsch (Sycamore Rouge's Associate Director).

Evening performances (8 PM) are Friday, July 28th, Saturday, July 29th, Friday August 4th, Saturday, August 5th, Thursday August 10th, Friday August 11th, and Saturday, August 12th.

Sunday matinees (2 PM) are July 30th and August 6th

Director Robin Armstrong with
a few of the Puppets she's created for
"Taming of the Shrew"

sponsored in part by


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