EBE Ensemble Closes SHAKESPEAKE IN THE PAGODA, 8/7

EBE Ensemble produces its first free, outdoor summer program at Prospect Park's 1887 Music Pagoda from July 24-August 7, featuring a repertory company in productions of Romeo & Juliet and Julius Caesar. The productions, together called SHAKESPEAKE IN THE PAGODA, are sponsored in part by Arizona Iced Tea and will be site-specific and feature active, modern interpretations using Shakespeare's classic texts.

Romeo & Juliet, directed by Dev Bondarin, opens at 1pm on July 24; Julius Caesar, directed by Kristine Ayers, opens at 4pm. The shows plays continue in rotating repertory at 1pm and 4pm daily on July 25, 30, 31, August 6, and 7. The Music Pagoda is located in Prospect Park, next to the Boat House, near the Prospect Park subway station on the B, Q or S trains. Admission is FREE. Folding chairs may be rented in advance for $3, or $5 at the park (subject to availability). Each show runs approximately 90 minutes without an intermission. For complete schedule information, visit www.ebeensemble.com/shakespeare/.

The repertory company includes many familiar faces to Prospect Park area residents, including ensemble members Montgomery Sutton as Romeo and Octavius Caesar; Eric Alba as Tybalt and Brutus; and Joshua Luria as Benvolio and Casca, as well as guest artists Judy Alvarez, Ugo Chukwu, Camille Mazurek, Nicholas Reinhardt, Len Rella, Jessica Rothenberg, Elizabeth Spano, Steve Viola, and Jessica Frey.

The shows feature costume design by Amanda Jenks, original music by Frederick Alden Terry (Romeo & Juliet) and Nicholas R. Wright (Julius Caesar), fight choreography by Turner Smith, and live foley design by Joshua B. Jenks and Nancy Valladares. Julius Caesar is assistant directed and stage managed by Mandee Kulaga; Romeo & Juliet is staged managed by Jessica Polanco.

EBE Ensemble is dedicated to developing and presenting new and unique works of theatre. They believe that making theater accessible enhances a community and that, through an ensemble-based approach, they can better present quality theatre that strives for an emotional truth. Now finishing their third season, EBE Ensemble has produced several new plays and adaptations and created the "You Fill in the Blank" play festival and competition in addition to the award-winning national one-act festival, Elephants on Parade.