Cincinnati Shakespeare Cast of “Hamlet” Reprises their Roles in Tom Stoppard’s Comedy “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”
Inside the heads of two fools in over their heads
Billy Chace as Guildenstern & Justin McCombs as Rosencrantz. Photo by Rich Sofranko.
CINCINNATI, January 22, 2014 — Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati’s stage for the classics, continues their 20th Anniversary Season with a special production of Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” playing February 14- March 9, 2014. This production is directed by CSC Artistic Associate Jeremy Dubin and features CSC Resident Ensemble members Justin McCombs and Billy Chace as well as the entire cast of “Hamlet” reprising their roles. The production design is generously sponsored by Graydon Head and GBBN Architects.
Tom Stoppard’s comedic tour-de-force “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” turns “Hamlet” on its head, telling the tale from the bewildered perspective of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy. As the befuddled duo struggle to keep up with the events around them, they become increasingly aware of the possibility that they might just be fictional characters. The entire cast of Cincinnati Shakespeare’s recent critically acclaimed production of “Hamlet” returns for this delightfully erudite vaudeville production.
Cincinnati Shakespeare’s resident ensemble has the unique ability to pair Shakespeare’s classic masterpiece, “Hamlet” with Tom Stoppard’s contemporary masterpiece “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”, further enhancing the experience for audience members, especially those who see both productions. “It is one of funniest and smartest comedies of the twentieth century,” says director Jeremy Dubin, “Doing it back to back with “Hamlet” will give audiences a chance to see the other side of the coin- trust me, that’s really funny especially if you know the play.”
The director Jeremy Dubin continues to say, “this is, hands down, my favorite contemporary play. It may well be the smartest comedy ever written- with due reverence to its literary forebear Waiting For Godot. Stoppard’s wit, humor, intelligence, and his loving irreverence towards Shakespeare (which he would go on to indulge in Shakespeare in Love) absolutely shine in this play. Plus, this production features one of my favorite comedy duos: Billy Chace and Justin McCombs. Yep, this one’s going to be a dilly.” Longtime resident company members, Billy Chace and Justin McCombs return to the stage as the title characters. Audiences have already delighted in the hilarious antics of Mr. Chace and Mr. McCombs in the sold-out productions this season of “The 39 Steps” and “Every Christmas Story Every Told” in which both actors were featured.
Performances of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” are scheduled from February 14- March 9 on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm. Preview performances are on Wednesday Feb. 12 and Thursday Feb. 13 at 7:30pm and tickets are $20. No performance on Sunday February 16. The theater is located at 719 Race Street, downtown Cincinnati, two blocks west of the Aronoff Center. Single ticket prices range from $22-$31 on Thursdays and Sundays and from $26-$35 on Fridays and Saturdays. If available, $14 student rush tickets may be purchased 30 minutes before a show with a valid student ID. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees may apply. Discounts are available for students, seniors and groups as well as Enjoy the Arts and AAA members. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at http://www.cincyshakes.com.
Performance Schedule:
- Wednesday February 12th at 7:30 pm (Preview)
- Thursday February 13th at 7:30 pm (Preview)
- Friday February 14th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday February 15th at 7:30 pm
- Thursday February 20th at 7:30 pm
- Friday February 21st at 7:30 pm
- Saturday February 22nd at 7:30 pm
- Sunday February 23rd at 2:00 pm
- Thursday February 27th at 7:30 pm
- Friday February 28th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday March 1st at 7:30 pm
- Sunday March 2nd at 2:00 pm
- Thursday March 6th at 7:30 pm
- Friday March 7th at 7:30 pm
- Saturday March 8th at 7:30 pm
- Sunday March 9th at 2:00 pm
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD
By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Jeremy Dubin
February 14- March 9, 2014
- Stage Manager….Alice Flanders*
- Sound Designer….. Doug J. Borntrager
- Fight Director……Drew Fracher***
- Scenic & Lighting Designer….. Andrew Hungerford
- Costume Designer…. Heidi Jo Schiemer
Cast List (in alphabetical order):
Darnell Pierre Benjamin……………………………………….Horatio
Billy Chace*…………………………………………………..Guildenstern
Sara Clark*……………………………………………………Ophelia
Bruce Cromer*………………………………………………..Alfred, The Play Queen
Sherman Fracher*……………………………………………..Gertrude
Jim Hopkins*………………………………………….….…..The Player King
Justin King…………………………………………………… Player
Matt Lytle…………………………………………………….. Player, Fortinbras
Justin McCombs*………………………………………………Rosencrantz
Travis McElroy………………………………………………..Laertes, Player
Caitlin McWethy……………………………………………… English Ambassador, Ensemble
Maggie Lou Rader………………………………….…………. Ensemble
Paul Riopelle*………………………………………………….Polonius
Zach Schute…………………………………….……………… Player
Brent Vimtrup*………………………………………..……….Hamlet
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States
**Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) Union
***Member of Society of American Fight Directors
About the 20th Anniversary Season:
The 20th Anniversary is generously sponsored by The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company receives operating support from The Ohio Arts Council, the Shubert Foundation and is supported, in part, by the generosity of thousands of individuals and businesses that give annually to ArtsWave. The season design sponsor is Mark & Sue Ann Painter. Production dates and information on the 20th Anniversary are available online at http://www.cincyshakes.com. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program/organization with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for audiences of all ages. Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, CSC produces a dozen mainstage productions each season. The repertoire is made up of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of the Theater Communications Group and the Shakespeare Theater Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reached nearly 30,000 young people and underserved community members last season by taking Shakespeare into schools, parks, community centers and by hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions at its home on Race Street. This season, CSC is proud to become one of only five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the classics!
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