Orlando Shakespeare Theater Opens THE ODYSSEY Tonight

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF (http://www.orlandoshakes.org) concludes its inaugural Studio Series season with a captivating World Premiere of the ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, playing at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center from tonight, February 14 - March 17, 2013.

The Odyssey stars acclaimed solo artist Charlie Bethel in a one-man tour-de-force that re-imagines Homer's famous myth in a faithful yet utterly accessible format for those who slept through Greek literature. Voyage across land and sea, through the underworld, to the top of Mt. Olympus with the brave and courageous hero, Odysseus, as he valiantly seeks his homeland and the arms of his wife and child.

Charlie Bethel is an actor/writer based in Minneapolis, MN. Theaters: Trinity Rep, Trinity Ensemble, Cape May Stage, Utah Shakespeare Festival, North Carolina Shakespeare Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Econo-Art Theater Company, Red Bones, Next Theater Company, Apple Tree, The Jungle Theater, The Children's Theatre Company, Hey City Stage, Minnesota Opera, Opera Memphis, and CalibanCo. Bethel is the creator and solo performance artist of four critically acclaimed versions of Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Seven Poor Travelers, and Tom Thumb or the Tragedy of Tragedies.

In addition to his theater work, Charlie has worked as a creative consultant for the Diamond-Star/Mitsubishi Motors Company (Normal, IL), as a writer for Red Farms Films (Seattle), as filthy joke generator for the Innovisions Greeting Card Company (Chicago), and as documentarian for WDUR-TV 5 (Durham/Chapel Hill, NC). He was recently featured in the History Channel series, "Clash of the Gods," as an expert on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. A Native Southerner, Charlie is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, the South Carolina Governor's School, and he comes from a long line of talkers.

The creative team includes Director and Sound Designer Michael Carleton, Scenic Designer Robbin Watts, Lighting Designer Mary Heffernan, and Costume Designer Kristina Tollefson.

The Odyssey first premiered to audience acclaim at Orlando Shakes as part of PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays in Fall 2011. A nationally renowned festival, PlayFest! focuses on the creative process from page to the stage and affords the playwright the opportunity to work with top directors and actors from Orlando and beyond. The Studio Series hand-selects the audience favorites introduced at PlayFest! and develops them into full productions.

The Odyssey is made possible by Valerie & Jim Shapiro and Orlando Health. Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is supported by United Arts of Central Florida with funds from the United Arts campaign and by State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council.

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