Zeiders American Dream Theater Presents Shakespeare Adaptation TAKING MEASURE
The adaptation fuses the world and characters of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure into a young woman's struggle through contemporary academia.
Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" gets modern re-imagining in local playwright Chris Hanna's new work, "Taking Measure".
The adaptation fuses the world and characters of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure into a young woman's struggle through contemporary academia to explore today's Me Too movement and Cancel Culture in a surprisingly nuanced way.
"I wanted to address issues raised by today's me too movement with greater complexity than they are usually viewed," said Hanna. "It's incredible to realize that Shakespeare was considering the same issues so many centuries ago and the contrast between our two different worlds adds a fresh layer to the conversation."
"Measure for Measure", Shakespeare's classic, follows Duke Vincentio of Vienna and his deputy, Angelo. When Angelo rises to power, he exploits the novice Isabella, forcing Vincentio to step in and intervene.
While Hanna's adaptation will not be performed with Shakespearean text, audiences will recognize themes and characters from the original work. The new storyline follows college student Kim as she navigates a complex relationship with her Professor, Gil, alongside her fellow students.
Director Sarah Norris says The Z's performance space will elevate the production value with projection designs that can seamlessly transition from scene to scene.
"Always love working at The Z, and appreciate their commitment to new work," said Norris, "The theater is supporting local writers focusing on powerful stories with a great ensemble of actors."
"Taking Measure" will be performed at The Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach Town Center March 3-18. Performances will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays at 7:30PM, with Saturday matinees at 3PM. Tickets are available at The Z's box office, open M-F from 12-6pm, or online at www.thez.org. Zeiders American Dream Theater is located at 4509 Commerce Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462
Zeiders American Dream Theater is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission. Additional contributing sponsors include Audacy and Mitsa Group.
Zeiders American Dream Theater, known as The Z, is a professional, non-profit performing arts company whose mission is to provide a wide range of highly entertaining artistic experiences to the community by fostering and introducing new works and exceptionally gifted artists in all areas of the performing arts. The Z is a community hub for celebrating creative growth and entertainment. With intimate performance spaces and unique programming that generates an exciting connection between the performer and the audience, The Z inspires audiences and performers alike to tap into their own creative spark, unleash their dreams, and achieve their full potential.
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