Players' Ring Theater in Portsmouth to Stage THE BALD SOPRANO, 15-MINUTE HAMLET

From August 21st to August 30th, the Players' Ring Theater in Portsmouth will present a double feature of classic one-act comedies: Eugene Ionesco's "The Bald Soprano" and Tom Stoppard's "15-Minute Hamlet." Runtime is approximately one hour. Showtimes are 10pm Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm Sundays. Tickets cost $12, with discounts available for students, seniors, and Players' Ring members. To reserve, visit www.playersring.org or call 603-436-8123.

The production comes at a critical time for the theater. Last month, emergency repairs were made to the stage's electrical system, at great cost. The production's cast and crew are donating their shares of the ticket sales to the Players' Ring to help defray the cost of the new equipment.

The production team expects great turnout for the well-loved pieces. "Bald Soprano" is an absurdist take on a London dinner party, replete with wordplay and madcap antics. "15-Minute Hamlet" cuts down Shakespeare's text to hilarious effect. Audiences must be sure to stick around for the even faster, two-minute encore. Both shorts have delighted theatergoers for decades.

About the Players Ring: Since 1992, the mission of The Players' Ring has been to promote the efforts of local artists through the production of original works, while providing an affordable theatre space to local production companies. "The Ring" provides an environment where artists can thrive, grow, take risks and make daring choices