The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Announces New Play Reading Series

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced a new Fall play reading series - titled Lend Us Your Ears - featuring readings of three plays under consideration for future production. The readings will take place on three Monday evenings - September 20, October 4 and November 15 at 7:30 pm at the Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage, the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. Tickets are $15 each for adults or $40 for all three readings; $10 for students or $25 for all three readings. For tickets or more information, call the box office at 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

Lend Us Your Ears provides patrons the opportunity to join the directors, actors and artistic staff of The Shakespeare Theatre explore works under consideration for production in upcoming seasons. These script-in-hand readings will feature members of The Shakespeare Theatre's esteemed company of actors as well as prestigious guest artists, and will begin with background information about the play. Following the reading will be a talk-back session with director, cast and audience in order to gain valuable feedback on the play.

"Our existing Symposium and Know the Show education programs offer our audiences the opportunity to learn more about our productions and what it takes to put them on the stage," said Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte. "Lend Us Your Ears expands upon those programs and provides an opportunity to engage our audience in a new way. At the same time, they can enjoy dynamic readings of dramatic works that are not often seen on stage."

Lend Us Your Ears will begin on Monday, September 20 with a reading of William Shakespeare's first tragedy, Titus Andronicus. Acknowledged as Shakespeare's bloodiest work, the play has undergone tremendous scrutiny and caused much debate over its content, lineage and meaning. The reading will be directed by Shakespeare Theatre resident director Brian B. Crowe.

Up next is Bertolt Brecht's The Good Woman of Setzuan on Monday, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. The Good Woman of Setzuan will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Joe Discher. The final reading will be Shakespeare's Henry VIII, directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, on Monday, November 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets
Tickets for the reading series are $15 each for adults or a discount price of $40 for all three. Student tickets are $10 each or $25 for all three reading. For tickets, call the box office at 973-408-5600, visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org or email boxoffice@shakespearenj.org.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Main Stage, the 308-seat F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, is conveniently located in Madison at 36 Madison Avenue (Route 124) at Lancaster Road (on the Drew University campus), just minutes from routes 287, 78 and 10. Parking is free. The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre is barrier free with access into the Theatre via a ramp and elevator access to all floors. Wheelchair seating and transfer seating is available. Braille and large print programs are available. Infrared listening devices are available free of charge. Some performances are audio described. Contact the theatre for more information. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 973-408-5600 or visit www.ShakespeareNJ.org.

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's only professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.