Rehearsals for Mark Rylance-Led TWELFTH NIGHT & RICHARD III Begin Today

Rehearsals begin today, Monday, September 16 in London for the critically heralded all-male Shakespeare's Globe repertory productions of William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT and RICHARD III on Broadway this fall. The productions, which delighted audiences and broke all box office records in London's West End earlier this year, will open Sunday, November 10 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street), with previews beginning October 15. Twelfth Night and Richard III, which are directed by Tim Carroll, designed by Jenny Tiramani and with music by Claire van Kampen, will play a limited engagement for 16 weeks. Tickets are on sale now through www.telecharge.com.

For a schedule of performances and more information, please visit www.shakespearebroadway.com.

The Belasco Theatre box office (111 West 44th Street) will also open today at 10:00 AM. Regular box office schedule is Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, closed on Sunday. Starting on October 20, the box office will be open on Sunday from Noon to 6:00 PM.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance (Jerusalem, Boeing-Boeing) stars as the suddenly love struck noblewoman Olivia in Twelfth Night and as the ruthless and conniving title monarch in Richard III. Twelfth Night and Richard III offer the first opportunity for Broadway audiences to see Mark Rylance performing Shakespeare, for which he has earned such accolades as "our greatest living actor" (The Independent) and "the most exciting stage actor of his generation" (The Times). From his early performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company to his 10 years as the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe (1995-2005), critics and audiences have celebrated Rylance for his fresh, hilarious and inventive performances in Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Two Gentlemen of Verona and As You Like It, among others.

Much loved playwright, screenwriter, actor, writer, poet, journalist, comedian, television personality and National Treasure Stephen Fry makes his Broadway acting debut as Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk Award-winner Samuel Barnett (The History Boys) appears as Viola in Twelfth Night and Queen Elizabeth in Richard III.

The productions also feature Liam Brennan (Orsino in Twelfth Night; Clarence/Lord Mayor in Richard III); Paul Chahidi (a 2013 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Maria in Twelfth Night; Hastings/Tyrrell in Richard III); John Paul Connolly (Antonio in Twelfth Night; 1st Murderer/Cardinal/Ratcliff/Halberdier in Richard III); Peter Hamilton Dyer (Feste in Twelfth Night; Brakenbury/Catesby in Richard III);Kurt Egyiawan (Valentine in Twelfth Night; Richmond/Duchess of York in Richard III); Matt Harrington (Curio/Officer/Olivia's Servant inTwelfth Night; Dorset/Bishop of Ely/Guard in Richard III); Colin Hurley (Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night; King Edward IV/Stanley in Richard III);Terry McGinity (Sea Captain/Priest in Twelfth Night; Scrivener/Rivers/Blunt in Richard III); Matthew Schechter (Prince Edward in Richard III);Hayden Signoretti (Duke of York in Richard III); Jethro Skinner (Fabian in Twelfth Night; 2nd Murderer/Messenger/Halberdier in Richard III);Joseph Timms (Sebastian in Twelfth Night; Lady Anne/Grey in Richard III) and Angus Wright (Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night; Duke of Buckingham in Richard III). Understudies are Dominic Brewer, Dylan Clark Marshall and Tony Ward.

The Broadway productions will also offer several rows of on-stage seating. A number of the seats are now available for purchase throughwww.telecharge.com. Additional $25 on-stage seats will go on sale at a later point. Theatergoers who choose the on-stage seating will have an up close and personal experience with the productions, including close proximity to the exciting pre-show ritual of actors getting dressed on stage.

The producers have also announced that at every performance, 250 seats will be set aside to be sold for $25. These seats will include the balcony, as well as selected seats in the orchestra, mezzanine and boxes, bookable in advance, as well as on-stage seats, which will be available soon. Over 20,000 $25 tickets will be made available throughout the run.

"It is important to us that Twelfth Night and Richard III are accessible to all audiences, so we are thrilled to offer 250 seats at $25 for every performance, in all areas of the house including the orchestra, bookable in advance, throughout the engagement," the producers commented.

Twelfth Night and Richard III are both presented with an extraordinary all-male company playing both male and female roles, as the plays were originally staged in Shakespeare's day. The productions are filled with music, played live by seven musicians on traditional Elizabethan instruments in a gallery above the stage, and are lit almost exclusively by the glow of 100 on-stage candles, adding to the intimate and authentic atmosphere. Entering the theatre, audiences will also witness the pre-show ritual of actors dressing and preparing their make-up on stage, adding to the unique and immersive theatrical experience.

"These productions show how laugh-out-loud funny, thrillingly theatrical and immediate Shakespeare plays can be," the producers commented. "To see Mark Rylance, who is one of the world's greatest, most accomplished and acclaimed stage actors, and the remarkable Shakespeare's Globe company in these two uniquely staged extraordinary productions is an unforgettable experience."

The plays, which will mark the Broadway debut for London's world-famous Shakespeare's Globe, will be staged in repertory, with six performances of Twelfth Night and two performances of Richard III a week (post opening), with the opportunity to see the two productions in one day on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Outrageous high comedy ensues as the pangs of unrequited love affect the unforgettable characters of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. While the lovelorn Duke Orsino plots to win the heart of the mourning Olivia (Mark Rylance), an alliance of servants and hangers-on scheme against the high handedness of Olivia's steward, the pompous Malvolio (Stephen Fry). When Orsino engages the cross-dressed Viola (Samuel Barnett), who has disguised herself as a young man under the name Cesario, to plead with Olivia on his behalf, a bittersweet and hilarious chain of events follows.

Richard Duke of Gloucester (Mark Rylance) is determined that he should wear the crown of England. He has already dispatched one king and that king's son; now all that stands in his way are two credulous brothers and two helpless nephews - the Princes in the Tower. And woe betide those - the women he wrongs, the henchmen he betrays - who dare to raise a voice against him. Monstrous, but theatrically electric, Richard is Shakespeare's most charismatic, self-delighting villain, reveling at every moment in his homicidal, hypocritical journey to absolute power.

Twelfth Night and Richard III will be produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, Roger Berlind, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Glass Half Full Productions, 1001 Nights, Jane Bergère, Rupert Gavin, Stephanie P. McClelland, Shakespeare Globe Centre USA, Max Cooper, Tanya Link and Shakespeare Road Productions.

Tickets are on sale through www.telecharge.com.

Photo Credit: Simon Annand