Woof! Mosie the Dog to Makes Stage Debut as Crab in Breakdancing Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona

Hartford Stage has announced the stage debut of Mosie the dog as Launce's dog, Crab, in Breakdancing Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, with performances at 7 p.m. on August 13-15 at Hartford Stage.

Mosie is an 8-year-old wire haired terrier mix rescue dog. Her owners, Hartford Stage's Graphic Designer and Brand Manager Taylor Benedum and her husband, Dave, adopted her from a shelter in South Carolina. They named her Mosie because she is very low key and easy going. Mosie loves kids, treats, cuddling and Shakespeare. She dislikes the vacuum and the fire alarm. Although this is Mosie's theatrical debut, Taylor says Mosie is often mistaken for Sandy from the musical Annie.

Started in 2006 in conjunction with the Greater Hartford Art Council's Neighborhood Studios, Breakdancing Shakespeare is a paid, six-week summer apprenticeship for students ages 14 through 19 from the Greater Hartford area. Over the course of the program, students learn techniques of breakdancing, physical and vocal characterization, movement, and interpretation of classical text. They use these skills to put a modern twist on a classic Shakespeare piece, to help make Shakespeare's language accessible to audiences of all ages.

For tickets call Hartford Stage at 860-527-5151 or visit hartfordstage.org.