Bare Theatre to Conclude 11th Season with Free Outdoor Performances of TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA

Bare Theatre concludes its eleventh full season with Two Gentlemen of Verona, an early comedy written by William Shakespeare in the late 16th century. This minimalist production will travel around the Triangle over the course of five weeks, May 28 - June 30, and all performances will be given free to the public in plazas, parks, and even a brewpub.

Valentine bids farewell to her longtime friend, Proteus, and heads from Verona to Milan, where she falls in love with the duke's daughter, Silvia. Proteus remains behind to stay with his love, Julia, but his mother sends him to join Valentine shortly thereafter. Proteus forgets all about Julia when he sees Silvia, and becomes so obsessed with her he betrays Valentine, setting up her banishment by the duke. Julia meanwhile disguises herself as a boy and travels to Milan, where she discovers Proteus is now enamored with Silvia.

Bare Theatre, well known for cross-gender casting, finds timely relevance using diversity casting for this show. Discussion of gender identity is in the forefront of today's national conversation, and with weekly protests of House Bill 2 presently taking place just steps away from the show's opening venue, director G. Todd Buker transports the play into a modern urban setting while retaining the essence of Shakespeare's original characterization. The addition of gender revisions allows audiences an opportunity to discover new ways to view identity and sexism by comparing Elizabethan views with our current perspectives.

Two Gentlemen of Verona opens at the North Carolina Museum of History in conjunction with the exhibit First Folio: The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare. From May 28 - 30, patrons will be able to take in this 90-minute performance out in the courtyard and then step inside to see the exhibit.

The production then moves to the Triangle's smallest park - known as the Parklet - located next to Deco at the corner of Salisbury St. and Hargett St. The Parklet is an urban mini-park the size of two parking spaces, and it will afford the company the opportunity to present the first-ever "Shakespeare in the Parklet." The production plays here beginning First Friday, June 3, until June 12.

Two Gentlemen will make stops in Durham at Brightleaf Square on June 18, RTP Frontier in Research Triangle Park June 23, and Chapel Hill June 25 and 26 at 140 W. Plaza on Franklin St. The production closes June 30 at the Mystery Brewing Pub House in Hillsborough.

ALL PERFORMANCES ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Donations will be accepted after each show to tip the performers.

Website: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVweb

North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh

May 28 - 11am & 3pm

May 29 - 3pm

May 30 - 11am & 3pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBRNCMH

Parklet, Corner of Salisbury St. & Hargett St., Raleigh

June 3 - 6:30pm

June 4 & 5 - 3pm

June 11 & 12 - 3pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBPklt

Brightleaf Square, 905 W. Main St., Durham

June 18 - 11am & 3pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBDBrtlfSq

RTP Frontier, 800 Office Park Dr., Research Triangle Park

June 23 - 6:30pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBRTPF

140 West Plaza, 140 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

June 25 - 11am & 3pm

June 26 - 3pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBCH140

Mystery Brewing Public House, 230 S. Nash St., Hillsborough

June 30 - 8pm

Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/BT2GoVFBHMBPH

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