Ken Schatz & Rufus Collins to Head the Cast of THE LIBERTINE 5/14-5/30

Ken Shatz (the Obie Award-winning productions of Crowbar and Bad Penny with En Garde Arts, King Lear opposite Andre de Shields at Classical Theatre of Harlem) and Rufus Collins (seen recently in the acclaimed Manhattan Theatre Club revival of The Royal Family, other Broadway credits include To Be or Not to Be, The Homecoming, and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg), will head the cast of Stephen Jeffreys' period play The Libertine, which will have a limited engagement at the Chernuchin Theater from May 14th-May 30th. The production, which will be directed by Eric Tucker (Hamlet starring William Hurt in LA), is being presented by The Fools' Theatre.

Set in 17th Century England, The Libertine explores the life of John Wilmot, the Second Earl of Rochester (played by Ken Schatz), a brilliant and scandalous poet, satirist and philanderer. Wilmot's story is one of artistic genius, addiction, debauchery, excess, and love, and the play chronicles his tortured struggle as he compulsively wreaks havoc on the lives of those who love him while repeatedly clashing with the King of England (played by Rufus Collins). Weaving together documented history with dramatic flair, The Libertine provides an intimate look at one of history's most fascinating and brilliant characters.

Joining Shatz and Collins in the cast will be Peter Davenport (Papermill's Follies and Man of La Mancha), Sarah Doudna, Olivia Gilliatt, Vivian Leheny, Ted Lewis, Garth McCardle, Andrus Nichols, Simon Pearl (Les Miserablés on Broadway), and Carey Urban (the Queens Company's acclaimed productions of Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night).

This production of The Libertine will also feature an original score by Alexander Sovronsky (composer of music for the recent Broadway revival of Cyrano starring Kevin Kline), choreography by Sarah Doudna, costume design by Ella Sawtell, lighting design by Drew Vanderberg, and sound design by Kristina Worrall.

The Libertine will run at the American Theatre of Actors Chernuchin Theater (314 West 54th Street) from May 14th-May 30th, with performances at 8pm Wed-Sat and 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are priced at $18, and can be purchased online at www.TheaterMania.com or by phone at 212-352-3101.

The Fools' Theatre is a company that has arisen out of the belief that theatre has a noble purpose: To consider and celebrate what extraordinary creatures we are. Through emotionally brave commitment to the text and the truth, the company endeavors to provide an intrinsically theatrical experience that honors and reveals the extremes of the human spirit. It includes the sublime, the wretched and everything in between.

For more information on The Libertine and The Fools' Theatre, visit www.TheFoolsTheatre.com