The Acting Co's X/JULIUS CAESAR Rep Headed to Spencer Theatre This February

UMKC Theatre and The Acting Company is pleased to present a new artistic and educational collaboration as part of its 2016-17 season and 44th national tour featuring two new gripping dramas in repertory -- the world premiere of Marcus Gardley's X: Or, Betty Shabazz vs. The Nation and William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

Both will be staged in an exciting artistic and educational collaboration with University of Missouri-Kansas City, as well as the University of Kansas, University of Central Missouri, University of Missouri-Columbia and area high schools and community partners. Performances at the University of Missouri-Kansas City will be Feb. 21 through 23 at the Spencer Theatre, Olson PAC.

The assassinations of Rome's great ruler of the Republic and the revolutionary leader Malcolm X share the stage when The Acting Company pairs Shakespeare's Julius Caesar with X, a compelling new play by lauded playwright Gardley. The two gripping dramas examine the charismatic leaders who rise only to fall victim to rivalry, resentment and retribution. Gardley is a multiple award-winning playwright whose works include Desire Quenched by Touch (The Acting Company Off-Broadway production), The House That Will Not Stand and The Gospel of Lovingkindness. Ian Belknap, The Acting Company's artistic director, directs X and Devin Brain, The Acting Company's associate artistic director, directs Julius Caesar.

"Our Kansas City Consortium with The Acting Company, which includes KU Theatre, UCM Theatre, MU Theatre and UMKC Theatre, is eagerly awaiting the climax of our three year project: the performances by The Acting Company in our theatres this February," stated Tom Mardikes, Chair of UMKC Theatre. "We have been involved with the development of X: Or, Betty Shabazz vs. The Nation through the reading workshop last February with playwright Marcus Gardley. We have had actors and directors visit our students and offer insights into the Julius Caesar/ X project as well as being in the profession of theatre. We have sent students to New York to visit The Acting Company and participate in workshops. We are preparing to have the entire touring company visit this February and not only perform the plays, but participate in workshops with local high school students and visits to UMKC classes. It's an exciting time."

In addition to the performances at UMKC Feb 21 through 23, The Acting Company's 15-city tour comes to the Missouri/Kansas region on February 15-16 at the University of Kansas Lied Center, February 18-19 at University of Missouri-Columbia's Rhynsburger Theatre, and February 24-25 at University of Central Missouri's James L. Highlander Theatre.

Hall Family Foundation Vice President Angela Andresen Smart stated, "The UMKC Department of Theatre is a center of excellence at UMKC. Its reputation for quality and excellence opened the door for this exciting partnership with The Acting Company. It is always beneficial for our local arts groups to have the opportunity to work with and learn from leading national organizations. I appreciate Tom Mardike's commitment to this partnership project, especially his willingness to collaborate with theater departments at other regional universities. He has planted seeds that will grow into future projects benefitting UMKC, its students and Kansas City's thriving theater landscape. "

Single tickets for The Acting Company productions are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $15 for UMKC faculty and staff and $10 for all students. Packages for both plays are available: $45 for adults, $35 for seniors and $25 for UMKC faculty and staff. For tickets, call the Central Ticket Office at (816) 235-6222 or purchase online here.

Parking for Grant Hall Theatre ticketed productions is available on level 4 only of the multi-level parking structure at 52nd and Rockhill. Parking for Performing Arts Center ticketed productions is available on level 5 only of the multi-level parking structure at 50th between Cherry and Oak (Park near the Northeast Tower and use the elevated crosswalk back to the PAC.)

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Complete list of tour cities for the season:

First-look shows: Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2017 Phoenix, AZ Herberger Theater Center - Center Stage

World Premiere of X: Or, Betty Shabazz vs. The Nation: February 2, 2017 Mesa, AZ Mesa Arts Center - Piper Repertory Theater

February 3-6, 2017 Mesa, AZ Mesa Arts Center - Piper Repertory Theater

February 10-11 Flagstaff, AZ Northern Arizona Univ. - Clifford E. White Theatre

February 15-16 Lawrence, KS University of Kansas - Lied Center of Kansas

February 18-19 Columbia, MO Univ. of Missouri-Columbia - Rhynsburger Theatre

February 21-23 Kansas City, MO Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City - Helen F. Spencer Theatre

February 24-25 Warrensburg, MO Univ. of Central Missouri - James L. Highlander Theatre

March 2 Baltimore, MD Morgan State Univ. - Turpin-Lamb Theatre (Murphy Fine Arts Center)

March 3-7 Towson, MD Towson University - Stephens Hall Theatre

March 8-9 Essex, MD Community College Baltimore Co Essex - Mainstage Theatre

March 10-11 Bowie, MD Bowie State University - Mainstage Theatre

March 15-26 New York, NY - The New Victory Theater

March 27-28 Oswego, NY SUNY-Oswego - Charlotte Waterman Theatre

March 30-31 Syracuse, NY Le Moyne College - W. Carroll Coyne Center

April 1-2 Clinton, NY Hamilton College - Wellin Hall

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The Acting Company is America's most honored touring repertory theatre, having reached four million people with 143 classic and new works. It brings live classical theatre to those who might otherwise never get an opportunity to gain an appreciation for it and have the transformative experience of attending live theatre.

To broaden its national reach, The Acting Company has announced a new artistic and educational collaboration with universities, colleges and community partners. "It's an exciting, innovative approach that embraces America's current cultural landscape and better serves the communities we visit on tour," The Acting Company's Executive Director Elisa Spencer-Kaplan said.

"It uniquely positions The Acting Company to become truly part of the community rather than simply being in it," Belknap added. "We have reinvented our model and deepened our impact with a repertory that draws on the past to illuminate the present."

Beginning in 2014, college and high school students in theater, education and the humanities have collaborated to explore ideas and artistic practice across the curriculum. On-site workshops, class visits, theater performances and public forums engage students, faculty and community members with opportunities to learn from our past while inviting critical dialogue about current events and social issues.

The new touring model includes three-year residencies with highly-engaged colleges, schools and civic organizations; long-term relationships that bolster theatre students' professional development; greater opportunity for community engagement; new and expanded partnerships with more than 100 institutions by 2018 and up to 120 performances a year for The Acting Company's actors.

UMKC Theatre has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the top graduate theatre training programs in the country. Graduates from UMKC Theatre are invited to the most prestigious New York and Los Angeles professional reviews and auditions to exhibit their work and secure positions with national and international performing companies. We build bridges. We assist the creative student in making the journey to becoming a creative professional. The practice of the department is to vigorously educate students in the many arts, crafts and traditions of theatre, and provide a basis for future careers in the creative industries. Our program offers intensive hands-on experience while at the same time fostering analytical and contextual skills. The practical experience of theatre-making occurs not only within the performing venues of UMKC, but also in professional theatres in Kansas City. Theatre is a passion. We seek it, we train for it and we embody it. UMKC Theatre is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and the University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA).

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban engagement. UMKC has been designated as Missouri's Campus for the Arts. More information is available online at www.umkctheatre.org.

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