THOR's Tom Hiddleston Stars in National Theatre Live's CORIOLANUS, Screening 2/16 at Music Box Theatre

The Music Box Theatre continues its partnership with the UK's National Theatre Live - produced by Northwestern alum David Sabel - to exhibit live stage performances beamed to Chicago from England. Next weekend: Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Thor) stars in Coriolanus, Shakespeare's searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge. Coriolanus bows Sunday, February 16, 11:30 am at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue.

Tickets to National Theatre Live events are $15 in advance at the Music Box Theatre box office and online at www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/coriolanus-2014-feb-16-sun-1130am; $18 at the door.

When an old adversary threatens Rome, the city calls once more on her hero and defender: Coriolanus. But famine threatens the city, the citizens' hunger swells to an appetite for change, and on returning from the field Coriolanus must confront the march of realpolitik and the voice of an angry people. Josie Rourke directs Shakespeare's searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge, with Tom Hiddleston making his return to the Donmar in the title role.

Northwestern University alum David Sabel is the executive producer of NT Live. He explains the live theater broadcast concept:

"It's a bit like filming a live sports event. We're not making a movie. It's a live, multi-camera shoot. We're taking the audience's eye where the action is, which is what a theater director does," he told The Washington Post. "What you lose by not being there in the flesh, I think there are things you gain.... The camera can take you places and give you an intimacy you sometimes struggle to get in the theater, especially if you sat at the back of the balcony."

About the Donmar Warehouse: The Donmar Warehouse (Josie Rourke, Artistic Director; Kate Pakenham, Executive Producer) is a 251-seat subsidized theater located in the heart of Covent Garden in London's West End. Over the past 22 years it has built an international reputation for artistic excellence as one of the UK's leading producing theaters. The Donmar's diverse artistic policy encompasses bold reimaginings of classics and Shakespeare, innovative revivals of contemporary British, Irish and American drama, and in recent years has demonstrated a renewed commitment to new plays. The Donmar regularly produces work beyond its Covent Garden home. 2013 alone saw Matt Charman's The Machine open at Manchester International Festival before playing at Park Avenue Armory, New York, Phyllida Lloyd's all-female Julius Caesar transfer to St. Ann's Warehouse, Brooklyn, and Conor McPherson's The Night Alive, transfer to the Atlantic Theater, New York. Josie Rourke's production of Conor McPherson's The Weir is now playing at the Wyndham's Theatre, London, until 19 April. For more information visit donmarwarehouse.com

Music Box Theatre has been the premier venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films, festivals and some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago. It currently has the largest cinema space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD and television markets throughout the United States. For additional information, visit www.musicboxtheatre.com . Download the entire Music Box Theatre Summer Calendar here: www.musicboxtheatre.com/assets/calendars/Music_Box_Calendar_Summer_2013v2.pdf.

National Theatre Live is an initiative by the UK's National Theatre to broadcast live performances onto cinema screens around the world. Since its first season, which began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phédre starring Helen Mirren, more than 750,000 people have now experienced the National's work on movie screens worldwide.

To post a comment, you must register and login.