GAN-e-meed Theatre Project Presents All-Female Production of HAMLET, 5/7-30

 

GAN-e-meed Theatre Project launches their first season with a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's HAMLET featuring an all-female cast, performing May 7-30. In honor of Mother's Day, tickets for mothers for opening weekend (May 7-9) are $10. Producing Artistic Director SerahRose Roth leads the cast as the prince who, charged with a mission by his father's ghost, must unravel his family's mysteries with spies lurking at every turn. Director Christopher Webb has created a stripped-down version which exposes the core of passion, manipulation, and the many poisons of families.

"Contemporary mothers will appreciate seeing strong women artists in all the roles as they get swept into the intrigue and passion of this family drama. While it may take Mother's Day to convince the teens to go see Shakespeare, this approachable, taut two-and-a-half hour production will whet their appetite for more. Or, for a real Mother's Day gift, mothers can treat themselves" says Jen Alison Lewis, Publicity Associate.

Performing this classic in two small non-traditional spaces creates a strong sense of intimacy, as audience becomes complicit to and part of the spying all around Hamlet. "Our play is about relationships, about manipulation and revenge and truth, and about who is listening" says Webb. "There is no private space in the play for Hamlet, and that is vividly clear when the audience is 5 feet away."

GAN-e-meed is taking the rare step of planning a production in two local cities. "We wanted to share this with a broader audience, and the best way to do that is to tour it. I live in the Lowell area and there is a real cultural revolution happening here. I want to contribute to that, in addition to bringing it to the Boston area" says Roth. So why is a company whose mission is to advance the role of women in theatre doing Hamlet, rather than a play by a female playwright? "Because I wanted to" Roth says with a laugh.

While Roth started as an actor, her last few years have been spent in education and directing. "Our fall production will be a contemporary play by a woman, but HAMLET is the reason I started this company. I wanted to play this role and eventually realized I had to make my own opportunity, and that a lot of other women are in the same boat. Christopher was a big supporter in the planning process and it became clear that he is the best director for the job. GAN-e-meed is about supporting women in creating theater that we are passionate about."

Discounted tickets are available for $10 for all mothers on Mother's Day weekend, May 7-9 in Lowell, by entering discount code MOM. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 6pm. For additional information about GAN-e-meed events, to purchase tickets for Hamlet, or to join the mailing list, visit www.ganemeed.org.

ABOUT GAN-E-MEED THEATRE PROJECT

While HAMLET is GAN-e-meed's first full production, the company is riding high from two very successful events in February. Ties That Bind, three short plays about women and their families, was presented as part of Whistler in the Dark's Second Act Series at the Factory Theatre. Funds for Hamlet were partially raised by BOOBFest: Bringing On-Stage Opportunities to Babes, a wildly successful variety show celebration hosted by

GAN-e-meed at Boston Playwrights Theatre. GAN-e-meed also continues to host monthly Happy Hours for Women in Theatre and their supporters, on the first Monday of every month (next events: May 3 and June 7, 5:30-8:30, Cambridge Common restaurant, open to all). Roth will also be directing AS YOU LIKE IT for GAN-e-meed's 2010 summer program for young women.

GAN-e-meed Theatre Project was founded in 2009 to advance the role of women in theatre: the experienced and novice, young and old, artist and leader. To accomplish this, their seasons are created from shows proposed by female artists (actress, stage manager, designer, playwright, or director), and they promote the study of and visibility of gender bias within the theatre community. GAN-e-meed Theatre Project hopes to be the catalyst to establishing gender equity in New England theatre.