'Edward the Second' Opens Dec.15

Red Bull Theater proudly announces the world premiere of Garland Wright's adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's Edward the Second, with opening night set for Saturday December 15, at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street), for a limited Off-Broadway engagement through January 13. Opening Night will be hosted by Mark Rylance.

Among the opening night guests will be Michael Emerson (Hedda Gabler, Gross Indecency: The Trials of Oscar Wilde), Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty"), Michael Stuhlbarg (Pillowman, Invention of Love), Tracie Thoms ("Cold Case," Rent, The Devil Wears Prada), Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange, currently appearing in Cymbeline), and many others. This benefit gala will feature a post-show performance by Tracie Thoms.

Featured in the cast are Marc Vietor (from last season's highly acclaimed Revenger's Tragedy) as Edward II, with Arthur Bartow (Stone Cold Dead Serious), Kenajuan Bentley (Merchant of Venice, Jew of Malta), Rob Breckenridge, Wesley Broulik, Joseph Costa (Gore Vidal's The Best Man), William DeMeritt, Davis Hall, Lucas Hall (Old Globe's Hamlet), Randy Harrison (Justin on Showtime's "Queer as Folk"), Claire Lautier (The Revenger's Tragedy), Garth Wells McArdle, Matthew Rauch (Revenger's Tragedy, Prelude to a Kiss), Raum-Aron, Derrick LeMont Sanders, Raphael Nash Thompson (Pericles), and Patrick Vaill.

Artistic Director Jesse Berger will direct this premiere production of Garland Wright's adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's masterpiece of sex and politics.  "In this intensely provocative play, King Edward the Second asserts his right to have the private life he desires, only to have his love, his life and his kingdom destroyed. Do those in power have the right to a personal life?  Should personal needs be sacrificed for "the greater good?"  Love at any cost?" explain press notes. The greatest tragedy by Shakespeare's greatest peer comes to life in this entirely new version of Edward the Second. Red Bull Theater's production of Edward the Second will mark the first major professional production of Marlowe's masterpiece in New York City in over 30 years.
 
Performances of Edward the Second will be Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM and 8PM, and Sundays at 3 PM (except December 16th which will be at 7 PM); no performances December 25 - 26, 30, January 1 or 8.

Tickets will be from $20 to $50: $40 Regular tickets; $50 Premium Seating; $30 Age 30 & Under (w/ID); and $20 Student (w/ID). To purchase tickets, visit ticketcentral.com or call 212/279-4200. For more information visit www.redbulltheater.com .