Michael Patrick Thornton Stars in Next Theatre's RICHARD III, Beginning Tonight

Next Theatre Company presents the second production in its 34th season, Shakespeare's Richard III, directed by Jessica Thebus, at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street. Previews are tonight, January 3 at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, January 4 at 2p.m., Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 11 at 2 p.m. Press Opening night is Tuesday, January 13 at 7 p.m.

The regular performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are Saturday 4 p.m. performances October 18 and 25, and November 1 and 8. Tickets for previews are $25 and for the run, $30 - $40 with subscriber and student discounts available. Tickets may be purchased at nexttheatre.org or by calling 847-475-1875.

Michael Patrick Thornton* takes on the role of Richard III, Shakespeare's most infamous villain. Rounding out the cast is Lawrence Grimm* as Buckingham, John Lister* as Edward, Thom Cox* as Clarence, Shanesia Davis* as Margaret, Jenny Avery as Elizabeth, Olivia Cygan as Anne and Carolyn Latta as Duchess of York, with Matt Hawkins, Shane Kenyon, David Prete and Brannon Bowers playing multiple roles.

The production team is made up of Jacqueline and Rick Penrod(set design), J.R. Lederle (lighting design), Kevin O'Donnell (sound design) and Carolyn Sullivan (costume design).

*Indicates a member of Actors' Equity

ABOUT NEXT THEATRE COMPANY - Next Theatre Company produces socially provocative, artistically adventurous work. It is Next's vision to become a destination for audiences and artists who share this vision that theatre can promote awareness and provoke change with more power than any other medium of expression.

Since its founding in 1981 by Harriet Spizziri and Brian Finn, the 140-seat space has been home to over a hundred productions, serving nearly a quarter of a million theatregoers and winning Jeff Awards in nearly every category. The theatre's adventurous spirit and great conviction prompted Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune to announce that Next is "a resounding reaffirmation of what faith, dedication and talent can accomplish. It is what distinguished Chicago theatre in its early stages more than a quarter century ago, and it is what continues to make Chicago theatre so exciting."

Next Theatre serves more than 10,000 patrons annually, including students, elderly and everyone in between. The Next audience includes local Evanstonians as well as Chicago and North Shore residents, and they have come to expect artistic excellence in the pursuit of culturally progressive work.

The Next Theatre is located inside the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston, adjoining the Noyes street stop on the Evanston "el." Parking is available in the lot adjacent to the theatre and at the Evanston Civic Center.

Next Theatre Box Office hours are from 12 - 6 p.m. weekdays and two hours prior to curtain. All tickets are held at will-call until pick-up on the day of performance, unless the tickets have been purchased in person.