Chris Kayser to Lead CORIOLANUS at New American Shakespeare Tavern, 5/29-6/14

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern presents
CORIOLANUS, running May 29-June 14, 2015. Directed by Drew Reeves, with Chris Kayser as Cominius.

Forced into the Senate by his overbearing mother, the Achilles-like Coriolanus does nothing to hide his disdain for democracy, which works against him as Rome's leader. His citizens are hungry; his Senate peers are disloyal. Eventually banished by his own people, this God of War does the only thing he knows to do: lead his own enemy's army to kill the very people he serves. Shakespeare's tale of extreme betrayal is also one of his bloodiest and most political tragedies.

Join the cast and crew members for a lively Q&A session on Sunday June 7 after the show! A part of The Shakespeare Evolution Series: The Tragedies.

Cast:

Coriolanus - Jonathan Horne

Volumnia, Ensemble - Heidi Cline McKerley

Menenius Agrippa, Ensemble - Sam Ross*

Cominius, Ensemble - Chris Kayser*

Tullus Aufidius, Ensemble - Jacob York

Junius Brutus, Ensemble - Tony Larkin

Sicinius Velutus, Ensemble - Kathryn Lawson

Virgilia, Ensemble - Kirstin Calvert

Valeria, Ensemble - Kelly Criss

Titus Lartius, Ensemble - Vinnie Mascola

Adrian, Ensemble - Antonia LaChe

1st Volscan Officer, Ensemble - Stephen Ruffin

2nd Voscan Officer, Ensemble - Ralph del Rosario

1st Roman Senator, Ensemble - J. Tony Brown*

2nd Roman Senator, Ensemble - Nicholas Faircloth

Ensemble - Trey York

CORIOLANUS Synopsis (via The Pocket Companion to Shakespeare's Plays by J C Trewin) - Caius Marcius, arrogant patrician, loathes the common people, the hungry plebeians of Rome, who return his hate. He shows so much personal bravery in the defeat of the Volscians, led by Tullus Aufidius, that he is given the name of Coriolanus (from the town of Corioli, the Volscian stronghold) and, in Rome, is chosen as a candidate for the consulship. Detesting the obligatory display of humility in public, he carries it out with contempt, though the Tribunes of the People are in venomous opposition.

Accusing him of being a traitor to the Roman people, they urge the plebeians to demand his death. At length he goes into exile ("There is a world elsewhere") and seeks his enemy Aufidius who, at Antium, is planning a fresh attack. News of this deeply disturbs the Roman citizens; Coriolanus, advancing as a general of the Volscians, remains obdurate until he yields to the pleading of his mother, wife and son, and prepares to make a treaty of peace. Aufidius, who has been bitterly jealous, charges him before the Volscian Senate with betraying the cause, and he is stabbed to death. "Struck with sorrow", Aufidius orders the body to be taken up; "He shall have a noble memory."

Performance days & times: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:30 PM. An 8% sales tax is added on top of all purchases made at The Shakespeare Tavern. Discount Ticket Options: $15 for Previews (unless otherwise noted); Student/Educator prices: $5 off per price level per night except in the Balcony on Thursdays - not valid on Saturday nights; $14 for 10am matinees; $3 off for Military, Seniors, Groups of 10 or more, except in the Balcony on Thursdays. Promotional discount offers are not valid closing weekend of a performance. Purchase Tickets Online for most performances at www.shakespearetavern.com.

Accessibility and The Shakespeare Tavern: The Shakespeare Tavern is handicapped accessible. Please let the box office know if you have any special needs that we should be aware of in order to make your Shakespeare Tavern experience the very best we can. Our handicapped entrance ramp/parking is located directly behind our building. Once you turn onto Renaissance Parkway from Peachtree Street, you will turn right onto Courtland Street. The Tavern's back entrance will be immediately on your right once you clear the building on the corner and the traffic poles. The turn comes up quickly, so please drive slowly. Handicapped parking is directly in front of the ramp, behind our building.

Location/Parking: The New American Shakespeare Tavern is located at 499 Peachtree Street, NE, just four blocks south of The Fox Theater and directly across the street from Emory University Hospital Midtown. In the evening, we recommend parking in the Emory University Hospital Midtown Parking Deck located directly across the street from the front doors of The Shakespeare Tavern on Peachtree Street. Regular parking price is $5. DO NOT park on Pine Street or in the empty parking lots on Pine Street. Your car might be booted if you park in these lots.

Food and Beverage Service: The Tavern opens one hour and fifteen minutes before the performance for food and beverage service. Chef for a Night provides a British-pub-style menu for dinner. The Tavern has a beer, wine, coffee, tea, and soft drink bar that serves Bass and Guinness on tap.

Seating and Box Office: Seating is done on a "first come, first served" basis within each designated section. Table seating is limited however all seats can accommodate food and beverages. For reservations or more information, call or email The Tavern Box Office at 404.874.5299 or boxoffice@shakespearetavern.com or order tickets on-line at www.shakespearetavern.com.

Pictured: Jonathan Horne and Jacob York. Photo by Jeff Watkins.