Spend Valentine's Day With Shakespeare's Greatest Lovers and One Horrible Monster at Bartell Theatre

Madison Shakespeare Company announces the upcoming premiere of A Valentine's Affair: Love Scenes From Shakespeare, directed by Emily Morrison Weeks. The limited run opens February 13 at Capital Brewery in Middleton and closes February 14 at the Bartell Theatre in Madison.

The production is designed to be date night-friendly, clocking in at about one hour. In addition to six scenes from Shakespeare's plays, the production will feature "Love Sonnets From a Hat," an improv event in which cast members are challenged to perform a randomly selected sonnet in a style chosen by the audience.

The show focuses on some of Shakespeare's best-known couples, led by Romeo and Juliet, Benedick and Beatrice, and Antony and Cleopatra. From deeper in the canon, scenes focus on the love between The Tempest's Ferdinand and Miranda and the title characters from Troilus and Cressida. The chillingly compelling seduction of Lady Anne by the soon-to-be King Richard the Third rounds out the evening.

The ensemble includes real-life couple Don Dexter and Mary Dexter, MSC veterans Deanna Martinez, Mary Elizabeth Wallin, and Ian Hathway, and newcomer Rowan Meyer-Rainford. Annalyse Lapajenko and Jason Compton, performing concurrently in MSC's production of Henry the Fourth, make a special appearance.

Tickets are $15 general admission, available now at madisonshakespeare.org/a-valentines-affair.

Madison Shakespeare Company was founded in 2011 to present affordable theater classics to Madison-area audiences. In February 2018 the company presents Henry the Fourth and A Valentine's Affair. Past productions include As You Like It, Richard the Second, The Tragedy of Macbeth, and Sloshed Shakespeare. The company was named Non-Equity Theater of the Year for 2017 by readers of BroadwayWorld Madison.