Classical Theatre Company presents THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Most everyone is familiar with the opera THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini, but few know that the opera is based on the 1775 play by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais. The hilarious love story of the dashing Count Almaviva as he woos the sweet and beautiful Rosine, all the while facilitated by the clown Figaro.

The play has never before been professionally produced in Houston's long history. Beaumarchais' play is the origin for such iconic characters as Count Almaviva, Bartholo, Rosine, and of course, Figaro.

"This piece of theatre is so ripe with comedy that it directly spawned two operas, three plays, and a comic strip," says director John Johnston. "I'm thrilled to be able to produce BARBER. It's one of those forgotten scripts that I've been champing at the bit to direct."

"And the chance to bring it to our Houston audiences, who will have never seen it before, particularly excites me," says Johnston.

In addition to directing the play, Johnston has done the translation himself for this project. "The script for the play isn't as readily available as the opera is, and the ones that I had read felt antiquated and a bit overly formal to me. So I went to the original French and did the translation myself. It was a lengthy process, but I'm quite pleased with the final result, I hope that our audiences are as well."

Award-winning CTC Company Artist and local theatre star Philip Hays will portray Almaviva. Hays has directed numerous productions for CTC in recent years, but will be returning to the company's stage for the first time since 2011's King Lear and As You Like It in conjunction with the Prague Shakespeare Company.

The Classical Theatre Company is dedicated to boldly re-envisioning classical drama on the stage, in the community, and in the classroom through engaging and enlightening plays - bringing them new life and relevance while maintaining the integrity that the works deserve.

For more information about THE BARBER OF SEVILLE or Classical Theatre Company, please visit classicaltheatre.org.