KNOW THEATRE’S ADAPTATION SEASON CONTINUES WITH
MOBY DICK
adapted for the stage by Julian Rad
from the novel by Herman Melville
lyrics adapted from the traditional by Julian Rad
directed by Andrew Hungerford and Michael Burnham
Obsession. A whale. Revenge.
Overwhelmed by life in 19th Century New York City, Ishmael finds his only recourse is to go to sea. When he signs aboard the whaling ship Pequod, Ishmael is thrust into a momentous tale of revenge as one-legged Captain Ahab pursues the White Whale that maimed him.
Featuring the haunting music of sea shanties and staged with visceral theatricality, MOBY DICK, one of the most enduring works of American literature, is stripped to its essence and reimagined for Know Theatre’s intimate MainStage.
Performances of Moby Dick run October 10-November 8.
Directed by Know Theatre Producing Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford and local theatrical rabble-rouser Michael Burnham, this production breathes new life into a literary classic and will banish your notions of this being a dry English 101 tome.
Moby Dick features a stellar cast of local talent. Starring as the revenge-obsessed Ahab is Rico Reid, most recently seen at Know as Jeremy in last month’s Harry & The Thief. Also returning to Know’s MainStage are Jon Kovach (Peleg/Carpenter/Gardiner), Chris Wesselman (Stubb), and Chance Kilgour (Flask). Making his MainStage debut after a featured appearance in this summer’s Serials! is Daniel Winters (Elijah/Perth). Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Ensemble Member Justin McCombs (Starbuck) joins Know Theatre for the first time. Montez O. Jenkins (Queequeg/Boomer) joins us after a sold-out run of Traffick, presented as part of the 2014 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. And appearing for the very first time on a professional stage is Sam Ray (Ishmael).
MOBY DICK marks the Know Theatre MainStage directing debut of Producing Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford. Hungerford is joined as co-director by Michael Burnham, who has directed some of Know Theatre’s most memorable shows, including Corpus Christi and Adding Machine: a musical.
Burnham and Hungerford have created a highly theatrical world in which to unfold the tale of MOBY DICK, featuring a minimalist set that will be filled with high-energy action sequences, inventive movement, and the rousing sounds of whaling ship work songs. About Moby Dick, Co-Director Andrew Hungerford says:
“As a novel, Moby Dick was a forerunner of the modernist movement, 70 years ahead of its time. As a story, it’s incredibly relevant today. Obsession. Pursuit. These are themes we see or read about in the news every single day. And as a piece of theatre, it’s exactly the kind of show we want to stage at Know Theatre: visually compelling, textually rich, and utterly reliant on having an audience here in the room with us, sharing these experiences in the moment.”
This poetic and heart-pounding adventure is a Cincinnati regional premiere and runs October 10-November 8 at Know Theatre. Audiences won’t soon forget this production’s imaginative staging, stunning imagery, or powerhouse performances.
Cast
- Montez O. Jenkins as Queequeg/Boomer
- Jon Kovach as Peleg/Carpenter/Gardiner
- Chance Kilgour as Flask
- Justin McCombs* as Starbuck
- Sam Ray as Ishmael
- Rico Reid as Ahab
- Chris Wesselman as Stubb
- Daniel Winters as Elijah/Perth
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, appearing under a Special Appearance Contract.
Production Team
- Director – Andrew Hungerford and Michael Burnham
- Scenic & Lighting Design – Andrew Hungerford
- Costume Design – Noelle Wedig
- Sound Design – Doug Borntrager
- Music Arranged by – James Allen
Calendar Listing
Production: MOBY DICK adapted by Julian Rad
When: 8:00pm October 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31; November 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 3:00pm October 12, 19, 26; November 2
Where: Know Theatre of Cincinnati. 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. In historic Over-the-Rhine.
Tickets:
- $20 in advance
$10 Rush tickets at the door 10 minutes prior to curtain (when available) - FREE performances on Wednesdays, as part of Know’s Welcome Experiment initiative. Subject to availability. Please note that pre-reserved Welcome Experiment tickets must be claimed 15 minutes before the performance or be subject to redistribution.
- Tickets can be purchased by visiting knowtheatre.com or calling 513.300.5669 (KNOW). One-year sustaining memberships are available for $20/month or $240.
Since 1997, Know Theatre has been dedicated to creating explosive and evocative live entertainment. We value a playful artistic community where artists can collaborate and grow.
Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.
Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate member of the National New Play Network.
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