Pace University Presents The Acting Company's The Comedy of Errors

Pace University presents The Acting Company's production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, April 9 - 17, at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Directed by Ian Belknap, The Comedy of Errors has been garnering critical praise and standing ovations throughout a five month national tour. The New York presentation is part of Shakespeare at Pace's inaugural season which has included F. Murray Abraham in The Merchant of Venice and the London Globe's Merry Wives of Windsor and The Acting Company's Romeo and Juliet. This production of The Comedy of Errors is produced by The Acting Company, in association with The Guthrie Theater.

The Acting Company has a long tradition of presenting artistic works that engage audiences while developing some of America's finest young actors, directors and designers. Associate Artistic Director Ian Belknap has directed this delightful production of Shakespeare's most popular comedy. He joined The Acting Company three seasons ago as Staff Repertory Director after training with noted directors Doug Hughes and Mark Lamos.

"Charlie Chaplin and Shakespeare were both masters of imagery," says Belknap. "While Shakespeare used words, Chaplin employed props to evoke a limitless fancy. I was fascinated by the similarities I discovered combining Shakespeare's complex language with the seeming simplicity of Chaplin's comedic genius. Chaplin said, 'All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl.'" Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors achieves the same utilizing a street, a policeman, and two pairs of twins. "The servant twins, both named Dromio, are Chaplin forbearers," says Belknap. "They represent the 'ordinary Joe' fighting to survive in a rich man's world. They laugh as they suffer; smile when they're down and remind us that comedy is an antidote for The Commonplace. As Chaplin said of Shakespeare, '[His] laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.' Ditto Chaplin."

Founded in 1972 by John Houseman, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone and current Producing Artistic Director Margot Harley, The Acting Company has been honored with a Tony Award for sustained excellence and has reached several million people in New York, 48 states and 10 foreign countries. Its 2009 commissioned adaptation of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was selected as the 4th best play of the year by TIME Magazine.

Some of America's finest actors have begun their careers with The Acting Company including Rainn Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, Jesse L Martin, Frances Conroy, Harriet Harris, David Ogden Stiers, Keith David, Mr. Kline and Ms. LuPone. The Comedy of Errors will give you a chance to discover other talented young actors who will join their ranks.

The Comedy of Errors at Pace University
Ticket prices for The Comedy of Errors at The Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University range from $30 to $75. $10 tickets available for groups of 10 or more and $5 tickets are available for student groups of 10 or more. Students under 25 (proof with ID) $5 Student Rush tickets (proof with ID), which are available at the box office on performance day an hour before show time. Performances are on April 9 through April 17: Saturday, April 9, 7:30pm, Sunday, April 10, 2pm and 6pm, Tuesday, April 12, 7:30pm, Wednesday, April 13, 7:30pm, Thursday, April 14, 7:30pm, Friday, April 15, 7:30pm, Saturday, April 16, 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday, April 17, 2pm. This production is 90 minutes with no intermission.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.pace.edu/shakespeare or call toll-free (866) 811-4111 or visit The Schimmel Theatre Box Office, open Tuesday-Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm. To reach the Box Office, call 212-346-1715.

The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University is located at 3 Spruce Street between Park Row and Gold Street, in Lower Manhattan, just east of City Hall. The box office and theater entrance are located on Spruce Street, near the corner of Gold.