LENOX, MASS.: Shakespeare & Company celebrates its 38th season with a world premiere of Mother of the Maid, a regional premiere of Red Velvet and a mixture of Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies.
“We have so much great work in store for our 38th season,” said interim co-artistic director Ariel Bock in a statement. “Many of our shows are artist-initiated, and it is especially gratifying to see these projects coming to fruition as full productions.”
Said co-artistic director Jonathan Croy in a statement, “We’re bursting with enthusiasm about the upcoming season, and I’m humbled and honored to be part of the leadership team during this exciting time.”
The season begins with Sarah Treem’s The How and the Why (May 22–July 26), about two women biologists that meet for the first time, one at the start of her career and the other and the end of hers. Nicole Riccardi will direct the play, which will feature Tod Randolph and Bridget Saracino at the Elayne P. Berstein Theatre.
Next will be Shakespeare’s history play Henry V (June 18–Aug. 23), outlining the devastating aftermath of King Henry IV’s death. Jenna Ware will direct at the Berstein.
Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors (July 2–Aug.23), about two sets of twins wreaking havoc. It will be directed by Taibi Magar at the Tina Packer Playhouse.
Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World (July 10–Aug. 23), written and directed by Kevin G. Coleman, is a creative mashup of Shakespearean scenes, facts and swordplay. The play will feature Greg Boover, Annie Considine and Sean Kazarian at the Rose Footprint Theatre.
Following will be Shakespeare’s Hamlet (July 16–Aug. 22) at the Dell at the Mount. Jonathan Croy will direct.
Up next is The Unexpected Man (July 18–Sept. 6) by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton, which tells the story of a chance meeting between an author and a fan in a compartment of a train. The production features Corinna May and John Woodson. Seth Gordon will direct.
The world premiere of Jane Anderson’s Mother of the Maid (July 30–Sept. 6) is next. It tells the story of Joan of Arc through the eyes of her mother. Tina Packer stars and Matthew Penn will direct this production at the Berstein Theatre.
The regional premiere of Red Velvet (Aug. 6–Sept. 13), by Lolita Chakrabarti, is an imagined version of the story of Ira Aldridge, the first African-American actor to play Othello on the English stage. Daniela Varon will direct at the Packer Playhouse.
Next will be Cry Havoc (Aug. 28–29) by Stephan Wolfert, an interactive play that weaves together the experiences of Shakespeare’s iconic military veterans and Wolfert’s own experiences as a U.S. military veteran. Eric Tucker will direct this special engagement at the Packer Playhouse.
Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s An Iliad (Oct. 3–Nov. 1) is next in the Berstein, offering a modern retelling of Homer’s epic tale of undying love and unending battles.
