Independent Shakespeare Co. Presents DOCTOR FAUSTUS, Beginning Tonight

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC), presenters of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, announce a new adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's DOCTOR FAUSTUS, directed by Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Artistic Director Melissa Chalsma. DOCTOR FAUSTUS will begin previews tonight, October 23 at 7:30pm; will open on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm and will perform through Sunday, November 23 at the Independent Studio in the Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, 3191 Casitas Ave., #168 in Atwater Village.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS is Christopher Marlowe's tale of a man who sells his soul to the devil and spends the next 25 years getting everything his heart desires...only to find it wasn't what he wanted after all. It's a sexy, scary, funny play whose cast of characters include angels, emperors, the Seven Deadly Sins, Helen of Troy, and the Pope. (This production may not be suitable for younger viewers.)

Comments Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma, "Shakespeare isn't the only great English author celebrating a 450th birthday this year!

Christopher Marlowe was a revolutionary author. He died under mysterious circumstances at just 29 years old but he left behind a handful of plays that changed the course of English Theater. When DOCTOR FAUSTUS was produced in the Renaissance, they used the most advanced Elizabethan stagecraft. It was like watching a blockbuster film. It was a play with spectacle. So we asked ourselves, 'How do we explore spectacle in our intimate Studio?' We were inspired to employ projections, videotape and live music to amplify the shifts and turns of this play, which swings between the tragic, the fantastical and the wildly funny."

In a unique partnership, Westfield is sponsoring the presentation of two free performances of DOCTOR FAUSTUS at Westfield Century City on Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2. "Much like our free Shakespeare in the park, this is an opportunity to present free theater in Century City," says Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Managing Director, David Melville. "In our ongoing commitment to our mission to present inspiring, accessible theater to as wide an audience as possible, this is a new opportunity to bring our art to the public and broaden our audience in an innovative way."

DOCTOR FAUSTUS will preview tonight, October 23 at 7:30pm & Friday, October 24 at 7:30pm and will open on Saturday, October 25 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, November 23 at Independent Studio, 3191 Casitas Ave., #168, (between Fletcher Drive and Glendale Blvd.) at the Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, Los Angeles, CA 90039. Free, ample lot and street parking.

Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm & Sundays at 2pm.

Tickets are $20, $15 for Students; (Thursdays and Fridays).
Tickets are $25, $20 for Students; (Saturdays and Sundays).

This production may not be suitable for younger viewers.
For tickets, please call (818) 710-6306 or buy online at www.iscla.org

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