John Rando to Helm 'ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN' in Rep with HAMLET for The Acting Company, 1/9-2/1

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

Conversations relating to the works feature Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater on January 11 at 6:30, Mark Anderson, author of Shakespeare by Another Name after the January 20 performance and John Rando interviewed by four-time Emmy winner RAndy Cohen, the former "Ethicist" of the New York Times following the January 28 show. Tickets are $65 at 212-563-9261.

Additionally, two Staged Readings, relating to Shakespeare and Stoppard, are scheduled beginning on January 6 with Acting Company Board member Dana Ivey (The Importance of Being Earnest) starring in Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Feingold's Textual Relations, which explores the theory that someone else wrote Shakespeare. Tony winner John Glover (Macbeth) stars in Stoppard's Real Inspector Hound on January 13.
"I am excited to be back at The Acting Company where I got my New York start as Staff Repertory Director in 1991," John Rando said "and this season is especially exciting with two plays that are so interrelated- a great classic play with an equally great counterpart".

"It is hard to imagine a more perfect repertory in the classical cannon than these two masterfully inventive explorations of the same story," notes Ian Belknap in speaking about his first season as Artistic Director of The Acting Company.

"After 40 years touring all across America, we are making a concerted effort to expand our New York presence," explained Margot Harley, Acting Company Co-Founder and Producer. "We're continuing to tour but doubled the number of weeks our Company plays New York, expanded our Staged Reading series from four to seven plays, increased our education programs from Shakespeare for Kindergarteners to Shakespeare for Teachers and added several special events that will be announced as the Season unfolds.

Founded by John Houseman and Margot Harley in 1972 with Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, David Ogden Stiers and a dozen other members of Juilliard's first Drama School graduating class, The Acting Company has won numerous awards including a Tony Award for Excellence in Theater and performed for audiences of 3.5 million in 48 states and 10 countries. In addition to Ms. LuPone, Mr. Kline and Mr. Stiers, Rainn Wilson, Harriet Harris, Jesse L. Martin, Jeffrey Wright, David Schramm, Frances Conroy, Hamish Linklater and over 300 others have begun their careers on tour with The Acting Company.