Baltimore Shakespeare Presents RICHARD III 11/26-12/19

Baltimore Shakespeare Festival (BSF) stages Richard III, William Shakespeare's tale of political ambition taken to extreme, this holiday season on the BSF Elizabethan Stage at St. Mary's, located at 3900 Roland Avenue in the Hampden neighborhood in Baltimore City.

Richard III runs November 26 - December 19, and is set amidst the drama and excitement of a modern political campaign. Audiences will enter his "war room" and see how, in this era of partisan politics and ever shifting alliances, the story of Richard would be perfectly at home in the headlines of a 21st century presidential campaign.

Society has become obsessed with the personal charm (or lack thereof) of its leaders - popularity contests supplant support for issues. What's beneficial for the masses is often supplanted by what's expedient for the few. In Richard III, we see things really haven't changed in 400 years.

Richard III features Baltimore Shakespeare Festival alum Seth Reichgott in the title role. Hailing from the Philadelphia area, Seth previously has been seen on the BSF stage as Horatio, in the summer 2009 production of Hamlet, and the critically acclaimed Wittenberg, for which he later received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for his portrayal of Dr. Faustus.

The cast also features local favorite Tony Tsendeas. A Baltimore native and Hampden resident, Tony is a BSF Artistic Associate and has been seen in Twelfth Night, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and All's Well That Ends Well. Tony also has directed Macbeth, Othello, Julius Caesar, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), and Wittenberg, for which he too received a Helen Hayes nomination.

Directed by BSF Producing Artistic Director Michael Carleton, Richard III is part of the National Endowment for the Arts and Arts Midwest's Shakespeare for a New Generation program. Last April, BSF was chosen by the as one of only 40 theatre companies to participate in this initiative that will allow more than 1,000 school students to experience Richard III for free.

Curtain times for Richard III are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm. Tickets are $25 for adults; $20 for seniors (62 and over), teachers, and artists; and $10 for students (with ID). For tickets call 410-366-8596, or purchase on-line through the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival website, baltimoreshakespeare.org.

Now in its 17th season, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, one of three Equity theaters in Baltimore, has entertained audiences both at its headquarters location at St. Mary's on Roland Avenue in Hampden, and during summer performances in the Meadow at Evergreen Museum & Library. Producing Artistic Director is Michael Carleton. For information about subscriptions or how to become a patron, contact Chris Pfingsten, BSF Marketing and Development Director at 410-366-8594.