KNOW THEATRE’S 18TH SEASON CONTINUES WITH A FLIPPANT TRIP BACK IN TIME
THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE
by Charise Castro Smith
directed by Brant Russell
a coproduction with the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music
An irreverent comedy about what it takes to rule the world. Almost.
The year is 1504. It’s a freakishly cold day in Spain, and the hunchbacked, adopted sister of the dying queen Isabella has to use her formidable intellect to contend with colonial genocide, a forbidden lover, a hellion of an heir, and the mess that is politics in a changing world. An irreverent comedy that turns historical atrocities on their heads in a Tarantinoesque romp, it’s a collaboration that brings CCM drama students to Know Theatre’s stage for a twisted history you never learned in school.
Know Theatre continues its 18th season (“We’re Adults Now!”) by heading back to college and joining forces with UC’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) for the regional premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE, a play that will make you think about and laugh at 16th Century Spanish monarchical politics and European colonialism like never before…especially if you never have at all (honestly, we hadn’t either.)
This production marks CCM Associate Professor of Drama and Hunchback director Brant Russell’s Know Theatre debut, along with the Know debut of 8 CCM Drama students. About playwright Charise Castro Smith, Russell says,
“[She] artfully weaves history and anachronism. The subtle variances of tone, the frequently less-subtle humor, and the savoring of the language all speak to me. In terms of content, this play is very much about anyone who’s ever been marginalized. This is the story of a woman who is denied so many privileges that others enjoy because she was born in a body different from those around her. And ultimately it’s a story about privilege, ethics, power, and the way we tell the story of our shared history.”
Adds Know Artistic Director Andrew Hungerford, about the coproduction aspect,
“We’re thrilled to enter into this partnership with CCM, the school where 50% of Know’s full time staff received our training. It’s a great way for us to reconnect with our alma mater, to offer students a chance to step outside of academia and into small professional theatre, and to continue to build connections across Cincinnati’s artistic scene. We’re so excited to get to play with this cast, this creative team, and this great script.”
CCM senior Colleen Ladrick plays the titular role of Maxima Terriblé Segunda, The Hunchback of Seville, a brilliant, agoraphobic atheist faced with some difficult decisions. Joining Colleen on stage are fellow CCM students Sydney Ashe, Rachel Baumgarten, Andrew Iannacci, Julia Netzer, Meg Olsen, Alice Skok, and Emily Walton. Rounding out the cast are another Know newcomer, Brandon St. Clair Saunders, an ensemble member of Strawdog Theatre Company in Chicago who just finished his sixth summer season with the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, and Derek Snow, who has appeared on numerous stages across the city for over 20 years, including Know Theatre, Performance Gallery, and Falcon Theatre.
Opening October 9th, THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE re-imagines history in the irreverent style you’ve come to expect at Know Theatre, Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. Come in and play!
Cast
- Sydney Ashe as 1
- Rachel Baumgarten as HRH, Queen Isabella of Spain
- Andrew Iannacci as Christopher Columbus/Deputy Governor
- Brandon St. Clair Saunders as Talib Furozh
- Colleen Ladrick as Maxima Terriblé Segunda (The Hunchback)
- Julia Netzer as Innocenzia
- Meg Olsen as 2
- Alice Skok as Espanta
- Derek Snow as Abdul Haseem
- Emily Walton as Infanta Juana
Production Team
- Director — Brant Russell
- Stage Manager — Andi Radujkovic
- Scenic & Lighting Design — Andrew Hungerford
- Costume Design — Noelle Wedig
- Sound Design — Jason Sebastian
- Scenic Charge, Associate Scenic Designer — Sarah Beth Hall
- Technical Director — Nick Koehlke Fight Choreographer — K. Jenny Jones
Calendar Listing
Production: THE HUNCHBACK OF SEVILLE by Charise Castro Smith a co-production with UC’s College-Conservatory of Music
When: October 9th October 24th, 2015
Wednesdays Saturdays @ 8PM, Sundays @ 3PM
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 Theatre’s Welcome Experiment. (Subject to availability; reserved Welcome Experiment tickets must be claimed 15 minutes before the performance or be subject to redistribution.)
- 6 Ticket FlexPasses are available for $100 and can be used in any combination of patrons and shows for all MainStage and SecondStage programming at Know Theatre.
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 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 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.
Behind the Curtain Cincinnati 