Albuquerque Theatre Guild Sets August 2011 Performance Calendar

Albuquerque Theatre Guild announces August 2011 performance calendar- More theatrical performances take place every weekend here in Albuquerque than in any other U.S. city of its size.

Thru August 6 | July 2, 3 & 16 at 7:30; July 17 at 2; July 22 & 24 at 7:30; July 31 at 2; August 6 at 7:30.
The Comedy of Errors - by William Shakespeare, directed by John Hardman. Showing in revolving repertory as part of Will Power 2: The Vortex Theatre's 2011 Summer Shakespeare Festival, The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays and one of his most popular comedies. It is a fast paced farce involving mistaken identities and TWO sets of twins - identical masters and their identical servants. The hijinks begin as soon as all four twins wind up in the same city, and everything goes downhill from there. Puns, word play and slapstick! Accusations of infidelity, theft, madness and demonic possession! And a great scene describing what could be called the ugliest women in the world. Info: The Vortex Theatre, 2004 1/2 Central SE, 247-8600, http://www.vortexabq.org Price: $15, $10 Students (student rush 10 minutes before curtain), Festival Passes $40.

Thru August 7 | July 8 at 7:30; July 10 at 2; July 15, 17, 23 & 31 at 7:30; August 5 at 7:30, August 7 at 2.
Romeo and Juliet - by William Shakespeare, directed by Ryan Jason Cook. Showing in revolving repertory as part of Will Power 2: The Vortex Theatre's 2011 Summer Shakespeare Festival, Romeo and Juliet is among Shakespeare`s most popular plays because it is the most famous love tragedy ever written. The Will Power 2 production will have a special appeal because of its setting: a post-apocalyptic world where the troubles of love are echoed by a civilization in violent collapse. Think Terminator Salvation and The Book of Eli but with Shakespeare`s gorgeous verse and the passions of love. Info: The Vortex Theatre, 2004 1/2 Central SE, 247-8600, http://www.vortexabq.org Price: $15, $10 Students (student rush 10 minutes before curtain), Festival Passes $40.

Thru August 7 | July 1 at 7:30; July 3 at 2; July 9 & 10 at 7:30; July 24 at 2; July 29 & 30 at 7:30; August 7 at 7:30
The Merchant of Venice - by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Kierst. Showing in revolving repertory as part of Will Power 2: The Vortex Theatre's 2011 Summer Shakespeare Festival, The Merchant of Venice is a classic work about prejudice - as its heroine says, how it corrodes the soul of both he who hates and he who is hated. Shakespeare asks us to consider what blind prejudices we harbor and at what cost to ourselves and to those around us. No heroes, no villains, only human beings dramatically caught in their biases and hatreds, struggling to deal with consequences and escape. A great play for our time and a gripping night in the theatre. Info: The Vortex Theatre, 2004 1/2 Central SE, 247-8600, http://www.vortexabq.org Price: $15, $10 Students (student rush 10 minutes before curtain), Festival Passes $40.

Thru August 7 | Fridays & Saturdays at 8 and Sunday at 2.
Rancho Pancho - by Gregg Barrios, directed by Diane Malone. Part of the 2011 Tennessee Williams Festival, this play explores the turbulent and passionate relationship between Williams and his lover Pancho Rodriguez between 1946 and 1948, during the time that Williams was writing A Streetcar Named Desire. It premiered in San Antonio, Texas in 2008 and toured to the Provincetown, MA Tennessee Williams Festival that year. Diane Malone, co-artistic director of the Classic Theatre of San Antonio, who directed Rancho Pancho at the 2008 Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival, will direct this Camino Real production. Info: Camino Real Productions at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, 724-4771, http://www.nhccnm.org/ Price: $15, $10 Student & Seniors, and NHCC and ABQ Theatre Guild members.

Thru August 14 | Fridays & Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2. Thursday, July 29, August 4 and 11 at 8
Laughing Stock - by Charles Morey. A small community theatre tries its hand at repertory, preparing three shows at once to be performed on alternating nights. The theatre's weary GorDon Page directs Hamlet, Charley's Aunt, and a version of Dracula that he wrote himself. The universal struggle to overcome the odds is what the theatre is all about, and this company has many obstacles in its path. Info: Aux Dog Theatre, 3011 Monte Vista Blvd NE, 254-7716, http://www.auxdog.com Price: $16, Thursdays all tickets $10.

August 12 - September 4 | Fridays & Saturdays at 8, Sundays at 2.
A Cavalier for Milady and The Traveling Companion - by Tennessee Williams, directed by Rose Provan, and part of the 2011 Albuquerque Theatre Guild Tennessee Williams Festival. The first play is a late self-portrait by Tennessee Williams in which a famous author (Vieux) checks into a Manhattan hotel room with only one bed accompanied by a much younger man (Beau) who may or may not be hustling. The second play takes place in what at first seems a normal atmosphere-an elegant Victorian parlor on Park Avenue, where two sixty-plus well-to-do matrons are preparing to go out for the evening. Info: Desert Rose Playhouse, 6921 Montgomery NE, 881-0503, http://www.desertroseplayhouse.com Price: $12, $10 Students, Seniors and ATG members.

August 12 - September 4 | Fridays & Saturdays at 8 and Sundays at 2.
Lady Windermere's Fan - by Oscar Wilde. Like many of Wilde's comedies, this is a biting satire on the morals of Victorian society, particularly marriage. The story concerns Lady Windermere who discovers that her husband may be having an affair with another woman. After she confronts her husband, he invites the other woman, Mrs. Erlynne, to her birthday ball. Angered by her husband's unfaithfulness, Lady Windermere leaves him for a lover. After discovering what has transpired, Mrs. Erlynne follows Lady Windermere and attempts to persuade her to return to her husband. In the course of this, Mrs. Erlynne is discovered in a compromising position. She sacrifices herself and her reputation in order to save Lady Windermere's marriage. Info: Adobe Theatre, 9813 Fourth Street NW, 898-2222, http://www.adobetheater.org Price: $14, Seniors & Students $12.

August 18 | Thursday at 7.
Night Over Taos: A Theatrical and Historical Journey from the Taos Revolt to Statehood by Maxwell Anderson, directed by Shepard Sobel. This event is a performance/reading of a historical drama about a key period of New Mexico history, a panel discussion by distinguished historians about the play and its historical implications, and a special Centennial Broadcast of play and panel on KUNM during Centennial Week. It is an Official Centennial Event which has been created collaboratively by four of New Mexico's most respected cultural organizations - Teatro Nuevo Mexico, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Camino Real Productions, LLC, and KUNM. On January 8, 2012 the radio production of the play and the panel discussion will be featured in a special Centennial broadcast over KUNM and its affiliated stations throughout the state, as well as streamed live online. Info: The National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th Street SW, 724-4771, http://nmcentennial.org/2011/05/night-over-taos-a-theatrical-and-historical-journey-from-the-taos-revolt-to-statehood Price: Free with ticket.