Broads' Word Theatre Bringing FIFTY SHADES OF SHREW to Hollywood Fringe

Broads' Word Theatre has announced the opening of its premiere production, Fifty Shades of Shrew, an all-female production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, directed and adapted by Danielle Ozymandias.

"Place your hands below your husband's foot?" Surely a controversial statement in Shakespeare's time, in today's world it is hopelessly misogynistic. Unless... What if Katharina is a submissive in search of her Dominant? What if Bianca is a Dom auditioning subs? With the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, BDSM is front and center in the public consciousness, but is still largely misunderstood. Broads' Word Theatre sets Shakespeare's outdated The Taming of the Shrew in a BDSM dungeon, where the all-female cast investigates the dynamics of power and submission with a modern fearlessness.

Katharina (Jen Albert) is the older sister of Bianca (Tara Donovan). Although Bianca has several suitors - including Lucentio (Dana DeRuyck), Gremio (Marti Hale) and Hortensio (Esther Mira) - her father Baptista (Lacy Altwine) won't let her marry until the notoriously difficult Katharina finds a husband. Enter Petruchio (Dawn Alden), who embraces the challenge. This comedy's cast is rounded out by Sylvia Loehndorf as Grumio, Shana Gregory as Tranio, Maikiko James as Biondello/Servant, Lisagaye Tomlinson as Curtis/Tailor/Vincentio and Marian Gonzalez as Pedant/Widow.

Fifty Shades of Shrew is presented as part of the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival at the Lounge Theatre 6201 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Previews: Friday, June 5th at 8pm, Saturday, June 6th at 10pm, and Sunday, June 7th at 4pm. Performances: Saturday, June 13th at 10pm, Sunday, June 14th at 4pm, Friday, June 19th at 8pm, Saturday, June 20th at 10pm, Sunday, June 21st at 4pm, and Saturday, June 27th at 10pm.

Broads' Word Theatre was established to produce theatre by and about women, for everyone. The member/producers are Jen Albert (Emeritus Member of Babes With Blades), Dawn "Sam" Alden (Founder of Babes With Blades), Lacy Altwine (Stage Combat Supervisor at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Hollywood), Dana DeRuyck (Member of Sacred Fools Theatre Company and The Porters of Hellsgate), Tara Donovan (Managing Director of Little Fish Theatre and Founder of Cruthaigh Productions), Sylvia Loehndorf (Founder of Fed by Fire Productions and Member of Little Fish Theatre), and Danielle Ozymandias (Associate Production Manager at Sacred Fools Theatre Company, Member of Elephant Theatre Company, Little Fish Theatre, and Pacific Resident Theatre). Find more information about Broads' Word Theatre and Fifty Shades of Shrew at BroadsWordTheatre.com.