Synetic Theater Opens Teen Production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Tonight

Synetic 2012 comedy hit is back! The Synetic Teen Ensemble will remount Synetic's "Silent Shakespeare" hit - The Taming of the Shrew. The production is directed by award-winning Synetic choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili and Senior Company Member Alex Mills (most recently seen as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). The stellar artistic team also includes Synetic Company Members Scott Brown, Ben Cunis, Irinka Kavsadze, Ryan Sellers, and Vato Tsikurishvili. Twenty two Synetic teens will perform "Silent Shakespeare" classic with the inventiveness and flare audiences have come to expect from Synetic.

This production has been created with a belief that Synetic artists are not directing teens, but that they are working with Synetic Company Members. The expectations are never dulled down, the choreography is never simplified, and the scenes, although slightly adapted, require the same amount of finesse and technique that is demanded for the Main Stage original. One of the unique qualities of Teen productions is the sense of family that develops almost instantaneously. Not only did the cast come together as an ensemble, they also became connected to the larger Synetic 'family'. The teen actors were introduced to original cast members, artistic designers, and production staff. They learned the choreography from Synetic Theater's Resident Choreographer, Irina Tsikurishvilli, and received personalized scene instruction with actors from the Main Stage production.

Appropriate for ages 10+.

The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Irina Tsikurishvili and Alex Mills and starring Synetic Teen Ensemble will run tonight, April 12 - 14: Friday, April 12 at 8pm; Saturday, April 13 at 2pm and 8pm; Sunday, April 14 at 2pm at the Synetic Theater, Crystal City, VA, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington, VA. Ticket prices: $17 / $15 students and seniors / $12 for groups of 10+ / $48 family pack of 2 adults & 2 kids. Tickets: www.synetictheater.org or 800.494.8497.

CAST:

Katherine: Elise McDonnell
Petruchio: Misha Ryjik
Bianca: Maddie Osborn
Baptista: Ashton Shaffer
Tranio: Gwendolyn Torrence
Lucentio: Jason Noone
Hortensio: Nicholas Cadby-Spicer
Gremio: Henry Kramer
Grumio: Jade Uyeda-Trackman
Widow: Julia Jones
Ensemble: Cassie Cope, Catherine Ellzey, Nicole Gianuca, Marissa Gootee, Carly Greenfield, Natalie Kavsadze, Sydney Maloney, Alaina Quirk, Julia Russo, Ana Tsikurishvili, Ana Tsilosani, Sarah Velasco-Kent.

Founded in 2001 by the husband and wife team of Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili, Synetic Theater is the region's premier contemporary theater fusing dynamic art forms-such as drama, text, movement, acrobatics, dance, film, and original music. Synetic has received a total of 92 Helen Hayes Award nominations and 24 Awards for directing, choreography, acting, costume design, and best play.

Teen production program is an educational program established in 2011 that offers unique training and performing opportunity to talented teens in the community, often recruited during outreach residencies in public schools. Over 20 teen actors train an average of 40 hours for each production. Most talented of Teen Production graduates move into performing in Main Stage Synetic production: in the last two years Teen program has served as a training incubator for Synetic Acting Company.