Photo Flash: Independent Shakespeare Co. Presents TITUS ANDRONICUS

This summer INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. presents the dark spectacle, TITUS ANDRONICUS as the second show of its GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, featuring David Melville as Titus and directed by Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma. Celebrating the 15th anniversary season of free Shakespeare in Los Angeles City Parks, TITUS ANDRONICUS will begin previews at THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 28 at 7pm and will open on Saturday, August 4 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, September 1 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public! TITUS ANDRONICUS is the second of two productions being presented at this year's GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM is currently playing and will run in repertory through September 2.

This "Game of Thrones" for the Renaissance stage was a young Shakespeare's first big hit. Titus, a Roman general, returns from the war in triumph with Tamora, Queen of the Goths, as prisoner. What follows is a visceral story of temptation, political machinations, and the thirst for vengeance. It's full of bloody spectacle, dark humor, and definitely not for the youngest audience members.

Comments ISC Artistic Director Melissa Chalsma, "TITUS ANDRONICUS is Shakespeare's great ode to violence. One of his early plays, it was his first big hit with its inventive storytelling and dark humor. For this 15th Anniversary Season we chose to pair it with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, presenting mirror views of human nature. Both plays deal with the power authority holds over citizens in a community - A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM offers hope, TITUS ANDRONICUS offers a warning."

Managing Director David Melville says, "Our 15th anniversary of free Shakespeare in Los Angeles City Parks began with a tremendous start - over 2300 people joined us for our first two performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream! At the end of the summer we'll continue the celebration with the groundbreaking of the Griffith Park Performing Arts Stage Project, a $4 million project by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks at our performance site at the Old Zoo."

TITUS ANDRONICUS will preview on Saturday, July 28 at 7:00pm, will open on Saturday, August 4 at 7:00pm and perform in repertory with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM through September 2 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. All ISC summer Shakespeare in the park productions are FREE to the public.

For more information, please call (818) 710-6306 or online at www.iscla.org

Photo Credit: Grettel Cortes