Theatre Memphis Presents Richard III April 8-23

Theatre Memphis will present William Shakespeare's Richard III, April 8-23, 2011, in the Next Stage.

The 100 seat black box theatre has been converted to perform in the round, one of the options available in the black box theatre. Performances for Richard III are at 7:30pm Thursdays, 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays with matinees on Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $23 for adults, $15 for students with a valid ID. Call 901.682.8323 to purchase tickets or go online to www.theatrememphis.org.

Richard III is set after a war between the royal families of York and Lancaster. England enjoys peace under King Edward IV and the victorious Yorks. Richard, Edward's impaired younger brother, resents his brother's power and the happiness of those around him. Malicious, power-hungry and bitter, Richard conspires to take the throne and kill anyone who would stand in his way of becoming king.

Greg Boller , University of Memphis associate professor of marketing, will be playing the title role of the ruthless and malicious Richard III. Last seen in the Next Stage in Buffalo Gal, Boller has also performed on the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis in Tennessee William's A Street Car Named Desire, The Night of the Iguana and Neil Simon's Rumors.

Director Bo List has strong feelings about this production. "When the play was chosen, we could not have anticipated world events that would help inform our production and illuminate its relevance," List says. "Richard is a devious tyrant who sneaks his way into the crown of England and is ultimately (spoiler alert!) defeated by a noble soldier. Throughout the Middle East, despots are being overthrown and governments challenged. Proverbial kings are losing their crowns left and right - and we have this splendid play that demonstrates how the seduction and abuse of power undo seducers and abusers. I love RICHARD III because of its tremendously dynamic characters, tense and intense scenes, and the great relish with which Richard leaps toward ambition. Would that we all had his confidence for our own nobler pursuits!"
Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch, says that Theatre Memphis enjoys putting on modern theatre productions but that the classics are the soul of the theater. "Shakespeare has been around for a reason, " Litch says. "Any time we can place one of the Bard's works on our stages we know the public will respond. Richard III is a timely show in that the world is still full of egomaniacal, despotic rulers. The extremes to which Richard will go are a chilling parallel to current world events."

Theatre Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins Extended, on the corner of Perkins and Southern, and is a community theatre whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experience to enrich the lives of our audiences and participants.

TITLE: "Richard III"

VENUE AND ADDRESS: Theatre Memphis, 630 Perkins Ext, Memphis, TN, 38117

RUN DATES: April 8 - 23, 2011

TIMES OF SHOWS: 7:30 pm Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays.

TICKETS: $23 adults, $15 students with valid ID

BOX OFFICE: 901.682.8323

WEB: www.theatrememphis.org

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