Photo Flash: THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA Opens at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park

The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival continues with INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO.'s riotous rock & roll production of THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. Directed by Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Managing Director, David Melville, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA will begin previews at THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 29 at 7pm and will open on Saturday, August 5 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, September 3 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public! THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA is the second of two productions being presented at THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. MEASURE FOR MEASURE is playing June 24 - July 23.

A pair of idealistic best friends set out on a road trip. They are followed by two young women, determined to write their own destiny. Little do they all suspect they will have to overcome betrayal, broken hearts, and a band of outlaws before the journey's end. One of Shakespeare's brightest plays, this coming-of-age comedy features live rockabilly music, swing dancing, and a dog named Crab.

Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma says "We are so excited to present THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA. In 2004, we produced it in Barnsdall Park, marking our first collaboration with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. It's extraordinary to create a new version, given how much our company and the Festival have expanded since that time. Our very first performance back in 2004 was attended by 15 people and a dog! This year, over the course of 11 weeks, we will perform for nearly 50,000 people. Some of the kids that came with their families to see that first production have now graduated from college! (In fact, one of those young people who grew up with us, Donna Zadeh, is joining us onstage this summer.) In a way, we've grown up with them. But one of the things I'm proudest of is that as we've grown, we've retained our slightly anarchic, surprising style that relies on imaginative solutions to theatrical problems. We've also retained our personal relationship with our audience, interacting with them before, during, and after the show!"

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

David Melville (Director) Co-founder of ISC, he has acted in and directed many ISC productions. In last summer's Griffith Park Festival, he played the lead in Richard III and Stephano in The Tempest. Most recently at Independent Studio (ISC's indoor performance space), he directed the West Coast premiere of Sharr White's The Snow Geese. He appeared in The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord?at the Geffen Playhouse, and London appearances include?Hamlet (also Broadway) and Ivanov?(both of which featured Ralph Fiennes), and Henry VI in?The Wax King. His appearances on TV and in film include Lawrence of America, Ironaclad, The Understudy, and Perfection. He trained at the Webber-Douglas Academy, London. He wrote and co-starred in Strange Eventful History, a condensed story that takes the audience through ten Shakespeare plays and 150 years of British war. David has composed music for many ISC productions including last summer's?Richard III, Romeo & Juliet, numerous Dr. Pinch and the Pinchtones vaudeville shows, and the original ISC musical, Red Barn.

The cast of THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA will feature: Patrick Batiste, Josh Duron, William Elsman, April Fritz, Lorenzo González, Sylvia Kwan, Evan Lewis Smith, David Melville, Xavi Moreno, Nikhil Pai, Katie Powers-Faulk, Erika Soto and introducing Pickles in the role of Crab.

Season Production Design is by Caitlin Lainoff. Season Lighting Design is by Bosco Flanagan. Costume Design is by Ruoxuan Li. Musical Direction is by Dave Beukers.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING

THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA will preview on Saturday, July 29 at 7:00pm and will open on Saturday, August 5 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, September 3 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public.

For more information, please call (818) 710-6306 or online at www.iscla.org

Photo Credit: Grettel Cortes