Act-Out! Acting School will be presenting William Shakespeare’s The Tempest for its second annual Outdoor Shakespeare production. Act-Out! has been a Bay Ridge fixture since it was founded by Director John Stillwaggon in 2007, working both independently and in affiliation with Genesis Repertory, Narrows Community Theatre, and other local theatre companies. Its recent productions of Twelve Angry Men, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland, and Alice Through the Looking Glass have been received critical and public acclaim (Mr. Stillwaggon was honored by ReviewFix.com as one of their Top Ten Off-Off-Broadway Artists in New York City for 2010). Act-Out! continues to pursue its mission of providing high-quality, low-cost acting instruction to students of all backgrounds and levels of experience; Act-Out!’s students have included beginners and Tony-Award winners.
The cast of The Tempest combines seasoned Shakespeare veterans with experience on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours, and TV/Film (Michael C. O’Day as Prospero, Robert Saunders as Alonso, Mr. Stillwaggon as Ariel, Romo Hallahan as Stephano, Sara Minisquero as Trinculo, Mohammed Saad Ali as Caliban; Robert Aloi as Gonzalo; Michael Whelan as Sebastian) with excellent local bay Ridge artists making their first forays into the world of The Bard (Adele Wendt as Miranda; Andrew Guzman as Ferdinand; William Doyle as Antonio; Selena Guzman as Juno; Anis Rau as Iris; Polina Pekarskaya as Ceres). The cast also features outstanding members of Act-Out!’s Youth Acting Program (Arun Rau as Young Caliban; Aiden Lawrence as Boatswain/Young Ariel; Gabby Rubinfine as Young Miranda; Adley Rubinfine as Master; Or Mazo as Mariner; Mary Elizabeth Ronan as Silver).
The Tempest tells the story of an Italian Duke banished to a desert island, where he meets a native population that he finds fascinating, dangerous, and magical. He simultaneously engages and dominates the aboriginal residents, while plotting his revenge on his European usurpers. In Mr. Stillwaggon’s bold new intepretation of Shakespeare’s final masterpiece, audience members follow the cast through the park on a journey as wild as their surroundings; they learn that the Duke (Prospero) has sired two love children among the natives, and is beseiged by the struggle between his obedient, servile son (Ariel) and his petulant, defiant son (Caliban) as they vie for Prospero’s affection. The Tempest is a thrilling tale of exploration and discovery; the perils of imperialism and the blessings of cultural sharing; familial strife and unlikely brotherhood; revenge and forgiveness.
The Tempest will be performed at Narrows Botanical Garden, on the corner of 70th Street and Shore Road in Bay Ridge. Performances dates and times are as follows: Saturday, July 21 at 2:00pm; Sunday, July 22 at 6:00pm; Saturday, July 28 at 6:00pm; and Sunday, July 29 at 6:00pm. Audience members are asked for a suggested donation of $10 each; proceeds benefit Narrows Botanical Garden and the terrific work that NBG does for the Bay Ridge community.
To reserve tickets, or for more information, please contact Act-Out! at 347.720.0235 or [email protected]. Come step into a Brave New World!
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