Harlem Summer Shakespeare Stages SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY, Beginning Tonight

HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE, now in its 11th Season, is pleased to announce the world premiere production of SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY, written and directed by Alexa Kelly, at The Indoor Theatre, Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive (at 145th Street). Performances are FREE and begin tonight, July24 , 8 pm.and continue through Sunday, August 23.

This hilarious new play, portrays a Political Primary that has been modeled on the X FACTOR, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, and the traditional LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS format.

This show is a romp into politics and Shakespeare! Nothing is sacred! We enter a convention hall, where four of Shakespeare's characters are having their final Presidential Primary Debate: Lady Macbeth Famed Attorney General, renowned for her prowess in overthrowing King Duncan, Phoebe, the Shepherdess, who has made good as a woman of the people--boasts about neutering bulls with her bare hands--Now the Congresswoman from the great state of As You Like It, Malvolio, who dragged himself up by his bootstraps, started as a Butler, and is now the Governor of Twelfth Night; and Bottom, the former Attorney General, and now Governor of that great Midsummer Night's Garden State.

The panel of Judges, hosting this final debate are moderated by Attorney General Portia, renowned for her sense of justice and fairness to all; Beatrice the well reputed feminist, and Feste, humorist and sometimes clown. The Chorus is the television commentator for the folks watching and voting from home, and Romeo and Juliet seem to have gotten lost somewhere in history and find themselves here. There are sponsors, there is traditional convention entertainment, and finally the audience will vote on who they select as the winner of this debate. It is a care-free frollick, an event unlike any other you have attended. Expect the unexpected, laugh until you cry, hear Shakespeare spoken in the most unusual situations! All those in Favor say "Aye"!

The production stars Camille Mazurek* (Tribeca Performing Arts Center, St Croix Festival Theatre, HERE, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Harlem Summer Shakespeare, roles such as Maria in Twelfth Night, Lysistrata in Lysistrata, Dottie Otley in Noises Off) as Lady Macbeth; Michael Gilpin* (Pulse Ensemble Theatre, John Houseman Theatre, Barter Theatre, Harlem Summer Shakespeare) as Bottom. Brian Richardson* (Barter Theatre, Metropolitan Playhouse, Bristol RIverside Theatre, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, Harlem Summer Shakespeare; TV-SVU, etc., roles such as Prospero, Malvolio, Puck) as Malvolio. Colleen McGloin* (Impact Theatre, Irish Rep Theatre, Harlem Summer Shakespeare,as Phoebe. Karim Sekou* (Classical Theatre of Harlem, Riverside Theatre, Pulse Ensemble Theatre, National Black Theatre Festival, Harlem Summer Shakespeare), as Chorus. Marcia A. Berry* (Chataqua, Indiana Shakespeare Festival, Harlem Summer Shakespeare) as Beatrice. Denise M. Whalen* (NY Gilbert and Sullivan, NY Grand Opera, Connecticut's Broadway Theatre, Harlem Summer Shakespeare) as Puck.

The production features scenic design by Bob Barnes,(Arkansas Rep., Asolo Theatre, Walnut St. Theatre, Florida State Faculty), costume design Mary Kelly, ( Florida State University, UNC-G, U of Michigan), and lighting design consultant Joyce Liao (Cherry Lane Theatre, Signature Theatre, Beckett Theatre, 59E59), Brian D. Richardson is the sound designer for Harlem Summer Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth). Shairi Turner is the Asst. Stage Manager and Bernadette Maas* is the stage manager.

SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY plays the following schedule July 23 through Sunday, August 23:

Wednesdays at 8 p.m.

Thursdays at 8 p.m.

Fridays at 8 p.m.

Saturdays at 8 p.m.

Sundays at 8 p.m.

There are no performances 7/25 and 8/5 through 8/9. Check website for schedule clarity or call 212-695-1596.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Running Time: 90 minutes

Website: pulseensembletheatre.org/harlem-summer-shakespeare

ALEXA KELLY (Playwright/Director) is the Producing Artistic director and Founder of the critically acclaimed Harlem Summer Shakespeare Outreach Project. Her previous writing credits include W.E.B. DU BOIS: A MAN FOR ALL TIMES, a play that was highly critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, toured Holland and performed before Queen Beatrix, and that was booked by the Victoria and Albert Museum for 20 performances to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington. The Du Bois show has also toured extensively in the US, and will be performing at the National Black Theatre Conference this summer. Alexa, who was born and raised in England, has taught and directed at Universities and theatres throughout the USA.

HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE OUTREACH PROJECT is dedicated to making the Classics accessible and exciting to the youth of today; committed to multi-ethnic casting; committed to taking an active role in its community, and to being a nurturing and developing ground for audiences, and actors in New York City, and to providing free outreach programs.

The Harlem Summer Shakespeare has produced critically acclaimed productions of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, MACBETH, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE TEMPEST, TWELFTH NIGHT and AS YOU LIKE IT.

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