'Bound in a Nutshell' Part of Fringe Beginning August 9th

Moonwork, Inc. -- a company known for its imaginative, original interpretations of Shakespeare, including critically acclaimed productions of RICHARD III, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM and JULIUS CAESAR -- presents the world premiere of BOUND IN A NUTSHELL, a one-act based on William Shakespeare's HAMLET, as part of the 12th Annual New York International Fringe Festival with five performances only: August 9 (noon), 12 (2:30pm), 15 (9:15pm), 19 (9:15pm), and 23 (4:30pm) at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Gregory Wolfe directs.
 
BOUND IN A NUTSHELL is a 90-minute adaptation of  HAMLET -- every word of which is Shakespeare's own -- set in a modern-day prison, complete with security cameras, prison guards and torture chambers. From this vantage point, the play depicts Hamlet's incarceration and trial for murder of Polonius and Ophelia's testimony against him. While a prosecutor builds a case of circumstantial evidence, security cameras watch Hamlet's every move as he plots revenge against his father's assassins.
 
Christopher Haas, who portrayed Marc Antony in Moonwork's well-received production of JULIUS CAESAR, is set to play Hamlet; with Monique Vukovic, who recently co-starred Off-Broadway in Jenny Schwartz's GOD'S EAR as Ophelia. The ensemble cast also includes Kathy Keane, Gregory Sherman, Andrew Uhlenhopp, Christopher Yates, and Zachary Zito. The production features original music by Andrew Sherman, composer of Off-Broadway's DEBBIE DOES DALLAS, and lighting design by Brant Murray.
 
BOUND IN A NUTSHELL reunites -- after many years -- several key founding-members of the company who were responsible for Moonwork's early successes and reputation for being the place downtown to find smart, probing, and innovative takes on Shakespeare: Gregory Wolfe, James Wolfe, Gregory Sherman, Andrew Sherman and Kathy Keane.
 
Moonwork carries out its vision with Shakespeare productions that wed 400-year-old texts to modern contexts and an "Evenings of Original Works" Series that showcases new material from local performance artists, comedians and musicians. Since 1996, Moonwork has staged two interpretations of ROMEO AND JULIET in addition to equally well-received productions of HAMLET, RICHARD III, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, WHAT YOU WILL (a.k.a. TWELFTH NIGHT) and JULIUS CAESAR, all directed by Gregory Wolfe. The New York Times called the company's production of WHAT YOU WILL (a.k.a. TWELFTH NIGHT) "an intelligent and sophisticated parody… under Mr. Wolfe's smart and crisp direction." And in its review of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Time Out New York suggested that "the makers of Broadway musicals could learn a thing or three from Moonwork." The company also produced VOICES FROM THE HILL, a musical adaptation of Edgar Lee Master's SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY. In 2006, Moonwork returned from a three-year hiatus of producing fully staged works with FOOLS AND LOVERS, a new musical based on various Shakespearean texts. Moonwork's Evenings of Original Work have featured talent ranging from Janeane Garofalo and Lewis Black to Grammy-nominee Tracy Bonham and Obie-winning playwright Dale Orlandersmith.
 
Gregory Wolfe is the artistic director of Moonwork, Inc.; James Wolfe is Managing Director. For more about Moonwork, visit www.moonwork.org. BOUND IN A NUTSHELL is produced by Moonwork, Inc., in association with The Present Company.
 
BOUND IN A NUTSHELL runs 5 performances only, as part of the 12th Annual New York International Fringe Festival: Saturday, August 9 at noon; Tuesday, August 12 at 2:30pm; Friday, August 15 at 9:15pm; Tuesday, August 19 at 9:15pm; and Saturday, August 23 at 4:30pm at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, just off 7th Avenue). General admission tickets are $15; advance tickets are available online, beginning July 18, at www.fringenyc.org, or by calling 866-468-7619.

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