Photo Coverage: Shakespeare & Company Present Regional Premiere of THE TAMING

Shakespeare & Company opened its 39th Performance Season on May 27 with the regional premiere of The Taming and BroadwayWorld was there for one of the performances. Written by award-winning playwright Lauren Gunderson, and directed by Company veteran Nicole Ricciardi, the outlandish and politically charged comedy is playing at the Elayne Bernstein Theatre running through July 30, 2016.

Super-patriot Miss Georgia has something bigger in mind for the Miss America pageant than winning a crown. She wants to jump-start a movement to rewrite the Constitution. So she's locked herself in a hotel room with two captive political opposites and the ensuing conflict plays out in hilarious fashion, complete with a screwball chase scene, underwear gags and slyly developing sexual attractions.

"This play is powerful, funny, clever-written for Seattle's Crowded Fire Theatre in 2013, Ms. Gunderson's play seems even more timely now," says Director Nicole Ricciardi. "The playwright believes it is the perfect time to laugh at the many imperfections of our two-party system: 'There's great power in farce to disarm people and bring them together.' I tend to agree, as I am reminded of the old adage, it's only funny because it's true."

Ricciardi's production of The Taming features three Shakespeare & Company newcomers: Maddie Jo Landers, Tangela Large and Lucy Lavely. The creative team includes veteran Company Artists John McDermott (Set Design), James Bilnoski (Lighting Design), Amy Altadonna (Sound Design) and Esther Van Eek (Costume Design).

With a running time of 90 minutes, tickets for The Taming are available online at www.shakespeare.org, or by calling Shakespeare & Company at (413) 637-3353 during box office hours. The Bernstein Theatre is air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible including added enhancements this year. Shakespeare & Company is located at 70 Kemble Street in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Photo Credit: Stephen Sorokoff

Shakespeare & Company

Lucy Lavely, Maddie Jo Landers, Tangela Large, Curtain Call

Jonathan Croy, Artistic Director

Lucy Lavely, Maddie Jo Landers, Tangela Large

Lucy Lavely, Maddie Jo Landers, Tangela Large

Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre

Elayne P. Berstein Theatre

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