07 Jul Telluride Theatre: Two Gentlemen of Verona, 7/19-7/27, Town Park Stage!
Telluride Theatre (TT) presents Shakespeare in the Park,”The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Sat, July 19 – Sun, July 27 at 8pm.
Light concessions and alcohol will be available for purchase at the event.
There are three tiers of tickets: GA ($40); Youth ($20); and Pay-What-You-Can (4 available per performance). “Shakespeare in the Park” is known to sell out quickly, so audiences are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.
To learn more, go to https://telluridetheatre.thundertix.com/events/244372.
Go here for more about Telluride Theatre.
On July 19, Telluride Theatre’s 35th Annual “Shakespeare in the Park” returns to the Town Park Stage with the troupe’s first-ever production of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Show is directed by Jim Cairl, who also helmed last summer’s production of “Twelfth Night.”
Telluride Town Park.
Telluride has a long history of local Shakespeare productions – dating back to the 19th century. The Bard’s” plays have been performed in historic local venues like the Masonic Lodge and the Elks Lodge. Towns across the U.S. have put on “Shakespeare in the Park” since the 1950’s. Telluride Repertory Theatre launched its own take on the tradition in 1990 with “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Elks Park.
Thirty-five years later, Telluride’s beloved summer tradition continues with one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedies, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
The play follows best friends, Valentine and Proteus, as they grow up and leave home to see the wonders of the world. However, their lifelong friendship is put in jeopardy when they meet Sylvia, the fair daughter of the Duke of Milan.
The play is chock-full of romance, sabotage, and silly characters, including a dog named Crab – which will be played by none other than TT Artistic Director Sasha Cucciniello’s very own dog, named Zissou.
Zissou Lightning Floof’s acting debut.
For this production of “Two Gents,” Director Jim Cairl draws inspiration from 1990’s teen rom-com films such as “Can’t Hardly Wait” (1998) and “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) – the latter of which is actually based on a different Shakespeare play: “The Taming of the Shrew.”
On theme with this aesthetic, TT’s “Two Gents” will feature live covers of classic 90’s songs.
“The leads of the play are at a turning point in their lives, trying to navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood,” explains Cairl. “You see this theme over and over again in movies like ‘Say Anything’ (1989) and ‘Ghost World’ (2001), just to name a few. Four hundred years since Shakespeare, we’re still exploring the same ground, trying to make sense of it all.”
This year’s “Shakespeare in the Park” features a cast of 14 local actors and a talented crew of local designers behind-the-scenes as well. Some of these artists are long-time collaborators of Telluride Theatre but for many, this is their first-ever production. TT strives to be an educational theatre for actors of all skill levels, “from never-evers to seasoned professionals.” This summer’s ensemble certainly underlines that objective.
“When auditions occurred, we were so excited to see so many new faces and talented performers to welcome to our stage,” says Cucciniello. “Telluride Theatre is committed to building community, and sharing magic & possibility through our unique theatrical process. ‘Shakespeare in the Park’ is one of our hallmark events, and we love sharing this tradition with our community each summer on the most beautiful stage in the world.”
“Working with Telluride Theatre for the first time has been an incredible experience,” says Susa Smith, who plays Julia in “Two Gents.” “Moving to a new place can be challenging, but the friendships I’ve made through this production have made me feel a sense of a real connection and community. I’m so excited to be a part of this show, and part of a theatre that cares so much for its town and community!”
“Two Gents,” summing up:
Title: “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Jim Cairl
Performance Dates/Times: July 19 – 27 at 8pm (no performance July 24)
Synopsis:
Valentine and Proteus are best friends. That is, until they meet Silvia, and their lifelong friendship is put in serious jeopardy. Can they all find their happily-ever-after?
A love triangle, a forest, disguises, and a dog – “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” has it all.
Shakespeare’s gloriously silly story of love, friendship and growing up bursts onto the Telluride Theatre stage in honor of our 35th anniversary of Shakespeare in the Park.
TT’s take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy draws inspiration from 1990’s rom-coms, and features live music and an all-star cast of local actors. Join us ON the Town Park Stage for one of our town’s most beloved traditions.
Cast:
James Van Hooser as VALENTINE
Kevin Douglas as PROTEUS
Susa Smith as JULIA
Taylor Fortenberry as SYLVIA
Niko Pantovich Gonzalez as LANCE
Sue Knechtel as THE DUKE
Samuel Young as SPEED/MUSICIAN
Alissa Ahlberg as LUCETTA/ENSEMBLE
Miguel Ambriz as OUTLAW/MUSICIAN/ENSEMBLE
Kassidy Atherton as HOST/ENSEMBLE
Aidan Choate as THURIO/ENSEMBLE
Bria Collins as PANTINO/ENSEMBLE
Evan MacMillan as ANTONIO/ENSEMBLE
Jacob Turnage as EGLAMOUR/ENSEMBLE
& introducing… Zissou Lightning Floof as CRAB (THE DOG)
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