Shakespeare's KING LEAR Ends Theatre And Dance At Wayne 2017-2018 Season

A freshly staged production of "King Lear" will wrap up the 2017-2018 season at the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a department within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, at Wayne State University. Running April 27 through May 13, this Shakespeare classic will play at the historic Hilberry Theatre located on the Wayne State University Campus.

One of Shakespeare's most intriguing plays, "King Lear" introduces us to Lear and his family as he prepares to retire as the King of Britain. He has decided that as a way to divide his land and assets, he will allow each of his three daughters to prove the strength of their adoration towards him. After his two older daughters lie and do nothing but feed his ego, his youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, takes a different route, refusing to make an insincere and therefore untruthful speech, and is instantly disinherited.

After splitting his wealth amongst his two daughters, they quickly turn on him, treating him poorly and mocking him on a regular basis. When the eldest daughter, Goneril, kicks him out, he finds no support from his second eldest daughter, Regan. Cordelia has since married the King of France even without the support of King Lear, and has heard of the neglect that her father was experiencing at the hands of her sisters. She shows up to defend her father backed by the French army.

Joining this production are two guest artists. Equity actor Mark Rademacher will play the role of King Lear, and Allegra Libonati will direct this fresh take on a classic. She explains, "The chance to work on 'King Lear' at Wayne State University with the incredible students in the beautiful Hilberry Theater is a creative opportunity like no other. For this production we will be working as an ensemble to create an empathetic ritual where we seek to understand and journey with Lear through the last days of his life. I also hope it turns out to be very funny and entertaining - a funny play full of music, foley sound effects, and balloons - about the cracking of an ego and the release of a spirit."

Tickets are available online at www.theatreanddanceatwayne.com, or by phone at (313) 577-2972. A convenience fee of $2 per ticket is automatically added to your ticket when purchasing online. Additional fees may be required per order.

Wayne State University is one the nation's preeminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://research.wayne.edu/.

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