Two Pence's THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET Opens 7/22; Gala on 6/6

Two Pence Shakespeare Presents Inaugural Production
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Opening July 22
Set in Italy, Between Two World Wars;
Includes Vet Art Project Collaboration
- Also "Verona's Summer" Gala on June 6 -

Two Pence Shakespeare presents their inaugural production, William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," set in Italy between the two world wars, exploring the realities of life after combat. Civil unrest is only the symptom of a society dealing with the effects of war, and Verona is populated by young men recently returned home, experiencing fear, loss, grief ... and the unexpected deliverance of love. As modern day America continues to welcome home returning veterans, this production follows men, trained in the art of war, settling into an uneasy peace with their friends and family already suffering from the post-war economy. How can two young people hope to ?nd peace with each other amidst so much chaos and pain? "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" runs about two hours with one intermission.

Two Pence will collaborate with the Vet Art Project (vetartproject.com) to invite war veterans to an open rehearsal on June 12, and a post-show talkback on July 31. Veterans will also be offered ticket discounts, plus some production proceeds from July 29, 30, and 31 will be donated to the organization.

"Verona's Summer" Gala, Tuesday, June 6, 2010, 6 - 10 p.m., at Evanston Arts Depot
Tickets on sale now at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/111102 and available at the door
$30 for food, one drink ticket (plus cash bar), raffle and auction, "Trousers" ticket
$99.99 for above, plus VIP "Trousers" ticket, 2-for-1 raffle tickets, final bid option on auction items, two tickets ($40 value) to "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" (reservation required)

The "Trousers" presentation includes an original collection of some of Shakespeare's finest male roles, played by some of Chicago's finest female actors, directed by Two Pence Artistic Director Tom Wells . . . "Verona's summer hath not such a flower."

WHERE:
Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main Street, Evanston, IL 60202
In the Evanston Metra Station between Chicago and Custer
Some street parking; CTA bus 201, 202 or 203; Pace bus 204, 250, 426
CTA Purple El stop; Metra Main Street/Evanston stop - schedules at: http://artsdepot.us/artsdepot/location.html

Opens Thursday, July 22, 2010, 7:30 p.m. (reception following)
Closes on Saturday, August 21
Runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Previews July 15, 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Some proceeds from the July 29, 30 and 31 shows will go to Vet Art Project

TICKETS:
To purchase tickets, call 312-488-1128 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com (available starting May 15)
$20 for regular single tickets (half-price rush tickets available at the door)
$15 for seniors (with ID); also for groups of ten or more
$10 for veterans, students, and industry members(with ID) - all shows
Pay-what-you-can for previews July 15-17

STAFF: Two Pence Shakespeare Staff: Artistic Director Tom Wells (Director), Executive Director Sarah Augusta (Producer), and Sherry Legare (Co-Producer). Guest artists include William Anderson (Set Design), Benjamin Dionysus (Lighting Design), Shawn Erickson (Graphic Design), Eric Fredrickson (Assistant Violence Designer), Jeff Harris (Properties Design), Kate Setzer Kamphausen (Costume Design), Melissa Law (Rehearsal Assistant), and Missy Styles (Violence Design).

CAST: Andy Baldeschwiler (Lord Capulet, Sampson), Austin Campion (Romeo, Abram), Charles Cowen (Paris), Eric Fredrickson (Friar Lawrence), Karen Hill (Lady Capulet, Apothecary), Eliza Hofman (Peter, Sister Joan, Balthazar), Sherry Legare (Nurse, Lady Montague), Daniel McEvilly (Mercutio), Christa Sablic (Juliet), David Shaw (Benvolio), and Johnny Garcia (Prince Escalus).

Two Pence Shakespeare (TPS) provides quality productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, emphasizing the beauty, humor and truth from speaking text with honesty and clarity. TPS also produces new works with classical, universal and humanistic theme, and serves the Chicagoland theatre community with professional quality classical acting training. TPS fosters, inspires and educations future generations of actors and theatre lovers by bringing Shakespeare into high schools and middle schools through in-school residencies, summer youth programs and in school performances and workshops.

For more information, visit www.twopenceshakespeare.org.