Theatre Pro Rata to Stage THE KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE in June

On Friday, June 3, Theatre Pro Rata will open the The Knight of the Burning Pestle by Francis Beaumont at the intimate Dreamland Arts space in St. Paul.

When a wealthy London grocer and his wife attend a performance of "The London Merchant," they announce that they'd prefer a more compelling story-one with a knight, a giant, ladies in distress... and they want their apprentice to join the company as the lead. When asked how she felt the show would resonate with a modern audience director Amber Bjork said, "I always thought that spoofs were dated and rooted in their time. But even though it's a 400 year old lampoon of Shakespeare (and contemporaries), it feels familiar and I was surprised at how recognizable some of the characters are--I've seen these people in our theater community, both on stage and in the audience."

The cast features George Dornbach as the titular knight, Rachel Flynn and Ben Tallen as the nouveau riche audience members, with Becca Hart, David Schlosser, Grant Henderson, Julie Ann Nevill, and Andrew Troth rounding out the cast as a group of traveling players eager to please their patrons.

Since 2001 Pro Rata, Latin for "in proportion," has produced smart, vivid, varied, and gutsy theater in the Twin Cities. Focusing on the text of the play, the company offers performers and audiences the chance to engage the characters, themes, and language more completely. Ranging from classic dramas to modern black comedies, Theatre Pro Rata produces scripts that range from classic dramas to modern black comedies and bring visceral theatrical experiences to the stage.

Recent accolades for Pro Rata include Best Dramatic Actor and Best Supporting Actor honors and Best of Twin Cities Theater for 1984 (2014, Lavender Magazine and City Pages), along with rave reviews and record-breaking attendance.

Theatre Pro Rata utilizes a unique sliding scale for ticketing, allowing patrons to name their own price from $14 to $41.