Seattle Shakespeare Company's 2016-17 Season to Feature HAMLET, THE WINTER'S TALE & More

Seattle Shakespeare Company's Artistic Director George Mount announced plans for the company's 2016-2017 season that includes a world premiere adaptation, pairings of plays exploring love and jealousy, and everyone's favorite fairy-filled fantasy. The plays included in the season are The Winter's Tale, Medea, the two-part epic Bring Down the House, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. The company previously announced its selection for the free Wooden O summer park shows: Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost. In the spring of 2017 Seattle Shakespeare Company will tour The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet to schools and venues across the state.

"A rarely seen Shakespeare distilled down to its essential intrigue and drama; a Shakespeare and Greek pairing that grapple with similar themes; and a show business homage wrapped up in fairy dust and music. Every time I think about our upcoming season, it makes me smile and get a little nervous about the ambition of it," said Artistic Director George Mount. "But I have a trio of trusted directors joining me to lead these projects and I know they'll dazzle us with what they've got planned for their shows."

"The pairing of the two shows performed in the fall of 2016 will open up a conversation about how love, jealousy, and betrayal can intermix and intertwine," said Mount. Seattle Shakespeare Company returns to the Leo K. Theatre at Seattle Repertory Theatre with Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Directed by Sheila Daniels, the play will run September 7 through October 2, 2016.

Medea by Euripides and directed by Kelly Kitchens follows in the Center Theatre October 18-November 13, 2016. "It will be our first return to a Greek tragedy since our knock-out production of Electra nearly 7 years ago. I'm thrilled to welcome Sheila and Kelly back to helm these projects. They are two artists with very unique perspectives that I respect, and I'm happy they've been a part of our Seattle Shakespeare family for such a long time."

Right after the New Year, Seattle Shakespeare Company will present the premiere of a new adaptation called Bring Down the House. It is an epic two-part re-imagining of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy and will be presented in collaboration with upstart crow collective. "This project has been incubating for quite some time, and it's so very exciting to know that it will soon hit the stage," said Mount.

Adaptors Rosa Joshi and Kate Wisniewski have honed Shakespeare's words and sprawling story into a tight two-parts that maintain all the treachery, battles, and machinations as two waring families fight for the throne of England. Bring Down the House will be directed by Joshi and feature an all-female company of actors. The two parts will run in repertory January 24-March 12, 2017 at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.

Stage magic meets fairy magic for Mount's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Cornish Playhouse. "This will be a valentine to show business filled with music, laughter, and all the charm everyone enjoys," said Mount. Shakespeare's comedy of mixed up lovers, fairies, and a troupe of amateur actors will run April 26-May 21, 2017

The Seattle area isn't the only one to get their share of the classics. Seattle Shakespeare Company's touring program crisscrosses the state with two 90-minute, small-cast shows that bring Shakespeare to communities that don't often see professional productions. During the spring of 2017 The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet will tour to schools and venues from Pullman to Ephrata to Wilbur to Wenatchee.

Before the indoor season starts in September, the summer will be filled with free Shakespeare in the parks. Seattle Shakespeare Company's Wooden O productions of Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost will perform in parks throughout the region from July 7 through August 7, 2016. The full schedule of dates and venues will be announced soon.

Season ticket packages will go on sale April 25 and range from $100 to $210 for all five indoor productions. Season ticket packages can be purchased by calling the ticket office at (206) 733-8222 or online at www.seattleshakespeare.org. Single tickets will go on sale July 2016 and range from $31-$50 per ticket.

2016 WOODEN O SUMMER SEASON

Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by George Mount
July 7-August 7, 2016
Performed in parks throughout the Puget Sound region

After receiving news of his father's death, a young man comes home to a much changed world. Doubt, uncertainty, and grief dog him at every turn. Struggling to make sense of the new order, Hamlet faces a crossroad. He can consent, or rage against the injustice around him. Shakespeare's rich and soaring masterpiece opens up to fresh insights with each new viewing.

Love's Labour's Lost
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Mary Machala
July 7-August 7, 2016
Performed in parks throughout the Puget Sound region

The idealistic resolve of four young men gets tested by four young ladies who show up at their doorstep. The King and his friends vow to abstain from women's company for three years. They plan to devote their time to academics. The Princess of France and her ladies arrive for a visit just as the vows leave the men's lips. It's will against want and heart against head in this delightful summer romance.

2016-2017 INDOOR SEASON

The Winter's Tale
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Sheila Daniels
September 7-October 2, 2016
Performed at the Leo K. Theatre at Seattle Repertory Theatre

Two generations overcome past wrongs and misjudgments in this exotic and magical saga. Obsessive King Leontes accuses his queen, Hermione, of having an affair and sentences her to a trial. Meanwhile their infant daughter gets spirited away to a distant shore. Sixteen years later, through fate and love, the young woman discovers her true heritage and reunites her family.

Medea
By Euripides
Translated by Frederic Raphael and Kenneth McLeish
Directed by Kelly Kitchens
October 18-November 13, 2016
Performed at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center

Wife. Mother. Exile. Medea abandons her home and country for Jason, the man she loves. When he discards her and their children for a new bride, the blow strikes deep into Medea's heart. She transforms into concentrated white hot fury. Love smolders to hate then burns to revenge, driving her to savage acts. With their children caught in the crossfire, Medea scorches all and everything around her.

Bring Down the House
An epic two part adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy
Adapted by Rosa Joshi and Kate Wisniewski
Directed by Rosa Joshi
January 24-March 12, 2017
Performed at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center

Part 1: Throne of Treachery
Part 2: Crusade of Chaos

>From chaos springs opportunity. No one knows this better than the scheming noble families in the houses of York and Lancaster. The power struggle for the crown of England thunders onstage with an all-female ensemble. From battlefield betrayals to court deceptions, the collapse of a kingdom gets reimagined in this epic premiere adaptation. Parts 1 and 2 will run in repertory.

A Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Directed by George Mount
April 26-May 21, 2017
Performed at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center

Theatrical magic and fairy antics share billing in this valentine to the stage. It's a fantastical tale of love gone kerflooey. Headliners and Divas trod the boards with Top Bananas and Hoofers. Four lovers cross spotlights with squabbling super naturals and a bumbling rube creating backstage comic chaos. The fairy Puck sorts it out before the act gets the hook, leaving us with a show stopper that brings down the house.

2017 SPRING TOUR

The Taming of the Shrew and Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Erin Murray
March-May 2017

Seattle Shakespeare Company's 90-minute touring productions maintain the beauty of Shakespeare's language and introduce these dynamic stories in fresh, accessible productions for students across Washington State. Small-cast ensembles play multiple parts with quick changes and distinctive character choices that make for a showcase of great acting. Copyright © 2016 Seattle Shakespeare Company, All rights reserved.
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