Epic Theatre Ensemble Announces Talkbacks for RICHARD III: BORN WITH TEETH

The Award winning Epic Theatre Ensemble announces post performance forums lead by scholars, authors, and entertainers, immediately following several performances of RICHARD III: BORN WITH TEETH at the Pershing Square Signature Center. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins performances Tuesday, April 16, opens on Saturday, April 20th and continues through Saturday, May 4th. RICHARD III: BORN WITH TEETH begins previews Tuesday, April 16th. The Forum's are presented as part of Epic's goal to inspire vital dialogue about social, ethical, and political issues and to build thoughtful citizenship in local communities.

This series is sponsored by the New York Council for the Humanities. Epic Theatre Ensemble's tickets are $25 for this production which includes post performance forums. Student Rush is also available. For tickets, visit Ticketcentral.com or call (212) 270-4200. For more information, visit: www.epictheatreensemble.org/R3.

Highlights are: "Political Manipulation" (Jonathan Alter, journalist and author, Robert Shapiro, Political Psychologist at Columbia University and Christopher Malone, Chair of the Political Science Department at Pace University) on Thursday, April 18th.

"Serial Violence" (Harold Schechter, true crime writer, Professor of American Literature at Queens College, expert in serial killers in history, literature, and our present time) on Wednesday, April 24th.

"Diversity in the American Theatre" (J'nelle Chelune, Program Director, Keith Josef Adkins, playwright and producer, Joel de la Fuente, actor, and Tonya Pinkins Tony- award winning actress and author) on Friday, April 19th at 7:30pm.

Additional Forum's will include:

"All in the Family: Familial Competition of the Past & Present" (Gerhard Joseph, Professor of English at Lehman College?) on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30pm.

"How Does New Information Impact Our Perceptions Of History" (Julian Zelizer, Professor of History at Princeton University and Jessica Blatt, Professor of Political Science at Marymount Manhattan) on Wednesday, April 17th at 7:30pm.

"The Language of Political Manipulation"(John McWhorter, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University and author of The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language and Sarah Jane Leslie, Department of Philosophy, Princeton University?) on Friday, April 26th at 7:30pm.

"Teaching Shakespeare: Approaches & Perspectives" (Jordan Dann, Education Director of The Shakespeare Society and Carol Losos, Director of Educational Programs for The English-Speaking Union) on Saturday, April 27th at 2:00pm.

"Gender, Sexuality, and Politics" (Mario Di Gangi- Professor of English at Lehman College and author of Sexual Types: Embodiment, Agency, and Dramatic Character from Shakespeare to Shirley, Priscilla Murolo- Chair of the Women's History Department at Sarah Lawrence College, Joe Rollins- Executive Officer of the Political Science Department at the CUNY Graduate Center and associate professor of political science at Queens College) on Saturday, April 27th at 8:00pm.

"Power and Perception in Contemporary American Politics" (Ken Sunshine, PR Consultant and Chief of Staff to then Mayor David Dinkins and curated by Donna Trufura) on Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30pm.

Empathy: "For by his face, straight shall you know his heart" (Abby Stein - Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies Program, John Jay?) on Friday, May 3rd at 7:30pm.

Ethics: "Props of virtue for a Christian prince" (Andrea Bonime-Blanc: CEO & Founder of GEC Risk Advisory, Chair Emeritus of the Ethics & Compliance Officer Association Michael Buckley: Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Lehman College?), on Saturday, May 4th at 2:00pm.

"Shakespeare" (Tanya Pollard, Professor of English, Brooklyn College and author of Drugs and Theater in Early Modern England and Shakespeare's Theater: A Sourcebook) on Saturday, May 4th at 8:00pm.

In RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, Epic Theatre Ensemble wraps Shakespeare's words in a contemporary setting where you'll enter the world along side and through the eyes of Shakespeare's most charming, funny and seductively evil actors: Richard III, himself.
Featured in the cast of 10 is James Wallert, in the title role; Peter Jay Fernandez; Melissa Friedman; Devin E. Haqq; Rhett Henckel; Lanna Joffrey; Michael Kirby; James Joseph O'Neil; Carra Patterson and Godfrey L. Simmons.

Founded in 2001, Epic Theatre Ensemble is a company of artists and activists dedicated to creating socially minded Off-Broadway productions, and to connecting these theatrical events to NYC Public Schools through rigorous in school and after-school residencies. Epic aims to inspire vital dialogue about social, ethical, and political issues and to build thoughtful citizenship in local communities. Epic's past productions include: the critically acclaimed New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play; Nilaja Sun's No Child... (commissioned, developed and premiered by Epic prior to its commercial transfer and national tour); the premieres of Beauty on The Vine (featuring Epic associates David Strathairn and Olivia Wilde), Hannah and Martin by Kate Fodor (featuring David Strathairn), Einstein's Gift by Vern Thiessen (featuring Aasif Mandvi and Shawn Elliott), Habitat by Judith Thompson; and the revivals of George Bernard Shaw's Widowers' Houses (with Peter Jay Fernandez), Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf, and J.B. Priestley's Time and the Conways. Epic Theatre Ensemble was founded by Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Teri Lamm, Ron Russell and James Wallert, and additional Producing Artists Godfrey L. Simmons Jr. and Sarah Winkler have since joined the founding team. Epic is the proud recipient of OBIE, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics and OTTO Awards, the 2009 "Coming Up Taller" Award from the President's Council for the Arts and Humanities for their flagship educational program, Shakespeare Remix, as well as citations from Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg.

The performance schedule for RICHARD III: Born With Teeth is: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm and Saturdays at 8:00 pm. There is an additional performance on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30 pm and the show is dark on Thursday, May 2nd. This production runs through Saturday, May 4th at 8PM. The play is performed at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theater at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42 Street).

Epic Theatre Ensemble's tickets are $25 for this production. There will also be $10 Student Rush tickets at the box office. Advance tickets are available through Ticket Central by calling (212) 279-4200 or visiting www.ticketcentral.com.

Pictured: Richard (James Wallert) and Hastings (Peter Jay Fernandez) listening to speech of Edward IV. Photo Credit: Steven Boling.