Great Lakes Theater Festival Presents All 37 (Abridged) Shakespeare Plays Thru 3/27

Great Lakes Theater Festival (GLTF), Cleveland's classic theater, kicks off the second half of its 2010-11 season with the riotously irreverent, three-actor romp, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Complete Works] by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. The production will be performed in the company's revolutionary and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, March 11-27. 2011. The Festival's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, will direct.

The production sponsor of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is PNC. Great Lakes Theater Festival's season is generously funded by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. The Festival receives additional season support from The Cleveland Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council. Media sponsors for GLTF's 49th season are Cleveland Scene, The Plain Dealer, WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM ideastream and WKSU 89.7 FM.

"Complete Works is as much fun for us to produce as it is for audiences to experience," said GLTF Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee. "Works is a complete and utter comic send-up, an homage to all things Shakespeare...with tongue planted firmly in cheek, of course. It really is an absolute blast and the Hanna Theatre is a perfect venue for the show."

In Complete Works three ambitious actors, clad in Converse tennis shoes and armed with an outrageous assortment of outerwear and props, cram the Bard's entire canon of plays and sonnets into about two hours. The Today Show may have described the production best when they said, "If you like Shakespeare, you'll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you'll love this show!" One of London's longest running comedies, Complete Works is a high-speed, roller coaster condensation of Shakespeare. Patrons are advised to keep their hands and feet inside the theater at all times as seat belts will NOT be installed in the theater for the production. In addition, audience members are asked to remain seated until the laughter has come to a complete stop.

Veteran actors, Paul Hurley, Jason O'Connell and M.A. Taylor comprise the three-man cast for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). While Taylor is a nine-year member of GLTF's resident Acting Company, regional theater regulars, Hurley and O'Connell will make their Festival/Cleveland debuts with Complete Works.

Great Lakes Theater Festival's award-winning home at the Hanna Theatre features a visionary "Great Room" inspired design concept that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single unified environment. Hanna patrons select from a variety of seating opportunities including traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and private box seating. Arranged in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration where the audience surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows from the performance at the Hanna.

With Complete Works, GLTF will continue to offer free, live music in the Hanna's lounge following Saturday evening performances (non-opening night). Nightcap Night Saturdays encourage patrons to extend their stay at the Hanna and highlight the GLTF/Hanna experience as one of the most unique entertainment options in the region. Critically-acclaimed vocalist and theater artist, Helen Welch, headlines the series on Saturday, March 19 performing in the Hanna lounge after the show. The Roy King Trio will provide musical entertainment following the Saturday, March 26th performance.

Great Lakes Theater Festival's Experience Enhancement Series is organized by day of week. The series highlights the Hanna's unique amenities and affords patrons access to Festival artists.
"Salon Thursdays" feature an engaging pre-show discussion with Festival artists beginning one hour before curtain. (Offered: Mar. 17 & 24)
"Happy Hour Fridays" afford audience members the opportunity to gather and socialize at the Hanna's bar early. Savory and sweet hors d' oeuvres along with a complete range of beverages are available for purchase ninety minutes before the show. (Offered: Mar. 11, 18, 25)
"Nightcap Night Saturdays" encourage audience members to stay after the evening performance and enjoy entertainment performed by the region's finest musicians and vocalists while mingling with the GLTF artistic company in the Hanna's lounge. The Hanna bar is open until ninety minutes after the performance. (Offered: Mar. 19 & 26)
"Ice Cream Social Sundays" offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or at intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every GLTF performance, but on "Ice Cream Social Sundays," the treat is half price. (Offered: Mar. 13, 20, & 27)
"Director's Nights" offer audiences the opportunity to take part in a pre-show discussion with GLTF's Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, before preview performances. (Offered: Mar. 11)
"Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions" inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the content and history of the play presented by a guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances. (Offered: Mar. 19 & 26)
GLTF will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this spring. The Hanna opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process of GLTF's actors and technical staff. Elements traditionally hidden from audiences such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering audiences an unprecedented glimpse into the theatrical process.

The Festival will continue its New Deal pricing initiative this spring - designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the program, adult tickets for every performance always begin at $15 and student tickets for any seat at any show are $13 - making the Great Lakes Theater Festival experience one of the most affordable entertainment options in the region.

The Opening Night performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is scheduled for Saturday, March 12 with a preview performance slated for the preceding Friday night. Curtain times for all evening performances will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for Saturday matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. GLTF will offer a sign-interpreted/ audio-described performance of Complete Works on Sunday, March 13.

Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$70 (Student tickets are $13 - any performance / any seat) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering online at www.greatlakestheater.org or by visiting The PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office. Groups of ten or more receive discounts of up to 40% by calling the Group Sales Department at (216) 241-5490 x302.
Great Lakes Theater Festival has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962. The first resident company of PlayhouseSquare, GLTF celebrates its 29th year in downtown Cleveland this season. Festival programming reaches 85,000 adults and students annually.