Pedro, the Great Pretender at Proscenium Thrust Theater

The Performing Arts Department Theatre program at Eastern Connecticut State University will be presenting Pedro, The Great Pretender (Pedro de Urdemalas) written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in a new translation by Philip Osment. The Spanish comedy will be presented in the new Fine Arts Instructional Center’s Proscenium Theater on November 8-13, 2016 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday at 7:30pm; early performances on Thursday at 5:30pm; Friday at 11am; Sunday at 4pm). This marks the premiere Theatre production in this extraordinary state-of-the-art venue. The choice of this show is to honor the 400th anniversary of the death of Cervantes who is considered one of the world’s greatest writers. The production also hopes to honor the Spanish heritage of residents of Eastern’s community-at-large.

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra is best known for his novel Don Quixote. Now contemporary audiences will delightfully discover that Cervantes was also a prolific playwright. Unfortunately, most of his plays have not survived nor have many been translated into English. Pedro, The Great Pretender is considered one of Cervantes most innovative and entertaining works. Interestingly, after extensive research into the life and times of Cervantes, the show director, Ellen Faith Brodie, sees clear connections between Pedro’s life quest and the fascinating real life circumstances of the author.

As David Whetstone of The Evening Chronicle stated, the show is filled with “bite-sized episodes in the life of Pedro, a genial rogue and our guide on a journey through a series of misadventures… (with) the cast of shepherds, gypsies, rogue officials, gullible widows and royalty… It's tremendous fun.” Peter Lathan of The British Theatre Guide stated that “the hero is not a ‘man of honour’ but, as translator Osment describes him, a ‘rascal drawn from folklore and picaresque literature’… (and) It's great fun, too, and gives all the actors a chance to shine.”

As directed by Ellen Faith Brodie, director of Theatre at Eastern, the show will also feature Spanish dance and music presented by colorful characters in stunning costumes designed by Anya Sokolovskaya in the midst of ingenious scenic effects designed by Kristen Morgan. Audiences will have an opportunity to experience the thrust arrangement of the Proscenium Theater as well as its state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and fly systems as overseen by Chase Rozelle, technical director, and Jen Rock, lighting supervisor, along with the support of Travis Houldcroft, media technology specialist.

Pedro, The Great Pretender offers a unique opportunity to highlight and celebrate Cervantes, a Spanish writer of major importance, along with highlighting and celebrating the official premiere Theatre production in the new FAIC Proscenium Theater. Tickets are free for Eastern students; $5 for other students and groups of 10 or more; $10 for Eastern faculty, staff, alumni, and senior citizens; and $15 for the general public. For ticket information and reservations, please call the FAIC box office at 860-465-5123 or email theatreboxoffice@easternct.edu.