Illyrian Players Theatre to Present OTHELLO, 10/31-11/21

From the company that brought you a cross-gender cast Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew as a BDSM love story, comes a provocative Othello - a theatrical exploration of outsiders and obsessions. The show runs October 31 through November 21, 2014.

For director Carly D. Weckstein, Othello is one of Shakespeare's darkest and most uncomfortable tragedies. It not only includes deep racism and misogyny but is often accused of sexualizing and glorifying domestic violence-an apparently odd choice for a progressive and "sex-positive" theater company. But for Weckstein, the fact that Othello remains deeply disturbing is the reason to stage it. In talking about her motivation to direct the play, she argues "racism, misogyny, jealousy and domestic violence are tragedies that happen every day. If we actually want to heal what is damaging in our world, we must confront what most upsets us and that means coming face to face with our own demons."

The Illyrian Players have taken their signature ensemble-based approach to exploring this tragedy with a cast of 11 talented actors: five of whom play the five primary characters, and six create a Masked Chorus, doubling as all other characters.

A minimalist set, stylized black and white costumes by Katie Jorgenson, and brooding lighting by Colleen Dunleap create the surreal and timeless space in which this nightmare-tragedy unfolds.

The play is scheduled to open on Halloween with a one-night-only costumed masquerade party with the cast following the show.

About THE ILLYRIAN PLAYERS - The Illyrian Players are LA's provocative, upstart sex-positive theatre company. The radically inclusive ensemble approaches theatre as subversive art form with the power to change the world. Through their reinterpretations of the classics, contemporary plays and original work, the Illyrians instigate an open and compassionate discussion around gender, sex and sexuality in our own lives.