Keith Baker News

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the Philadelphia Premiere of Defiance, the second installment in American playwright, John Patrick Shanley's planned trilogy exploring hierarchies in America - which began with the award winning Doubt: A Parable.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today reading series with Zakiyyah Alexander's SICK?. This reading will take place Sunday, February 15 at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish Hall, 225 Walnut Street in Bristol. Subscriptions are $45, $40 for BRT members, and individual reading tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets include entertainment and a soul food dinner. Conceived, produced and directed by Artistic Associate Adam Goldstein, the America Rising: Voices of Today staged reading series is a celebration of culture and language. Presented in partnership with Temple University's MFA graduate acting program, the series opens the door to the hottest new voices of the American theatre.

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the World Premiere of What You Will, a BRT original interpretation of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night from February 10 through March 1, 2009. A daring and bold take on the classic comedy that combines the language of Shakespeare with contemporary rhythms and movement, What You Will is conceived and co-directed by BRT Artistic Director Keith Baker and Donald Byrd, acclaimed choreographer of Broadway's The Color Purple and Artistic Director of Seattle's Spectrum Dance Theater. Music direction and original music by hip hop producer Justin Ellington completes the marriage of text, high-energy movement and heart-pounding music. What You Will begins previews February 10, opens February 12, and closes March 1, 2009. Tickets are $29 - $37, with $10 student tickets, and are available by calling the Box Office at (215) 785-0100 or visiting the theatre at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, with information online at www.brtstage.org. [A full performance schedule follows on page 4.] In this new interpretation, Shakespeare's original text is heard with a distinctively contemporary American voice as the worlds of modern urban and classical theatre are fused. In What You Will (Shakespeare's full title for the play was Twelfth Night, Or What You Will), the social center of Illyria is Club 12th Night - a place where pranks and disguises, playful games and folly rule. A shipwrecked woman stumbles into the club, beginning a chain of events leading to an astonishing conclusion. Mistaken identities, intrigue, music, a beautiful heiress, drunken partiers, and a spiteful servant merge with a hip-hop rhythm in Shakespeare's enchanting tale of revelry and love.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today reading series with Zakiyyah Alexander's SICK?. This reading will take place Sunday, February 15 at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish Hall, 225 Walnut Street in Bristol. Subscriptions are $45, $40 for BRT members, and individual reading tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets include entertainment and a soul food dinner. Conceived, produced and directed by Artistic Associate Adam Goldstein, the America Rising: Voices of Today staged reading series is a celebration of culture and language. Presented in partnership with Temple University's MFA graduate acting program, the series opens the door to the hottest new voices of the American theatre.

Bristol Riverside Theatre presents the World Premiere of What You Will, a BRT original interpretation of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night from February 10 through March 1, 2009. A daring and bold take on the classic comedy that combines the language of Shakespeare with contemporary rhythms and movement, What You Will is conceived and co-directed by BRT Artistic Director Keith Baker and Donald Byrd, acclaimed choreographer of Broadway's The Color Purple and Artistic Director of Seattle's Spectrum Dance Theater. Music direction and original music by hip hop producer Justin Ellington completes the marriage of text, high-energy movement and heart-pounding music. What You Will begins previews February 10, opens February 12, and closes March 1, 2009. Tickets are $29 - $37, with $10 student tickets, and are available by calling the Box Office at (215) 785-0100 or visiting the theatre at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, with information online at www.brtstage.org. [A full performance schedule follows on page 4.] In this new interpretation, Shakespeare's original text is heard with a distinctively contemporary American voice as the worlds of modern urban and classical theatre are fused. In What You Will (Shakespeare's full title for the play was Twelfth Night, Or What You Will), the social center of Illyria is Club 12th Night - a place where pranks and disguises, playful games and folly rule. A shipwrecked woman stumbles into the club, beginning a chain of events leading to an astonishing conclusion. Mistaken identities, intrigue, music, a beautiful heiress, drunken partiers, and a spiteful servant merge with a hip-hop rhythm in Shakespeare's enchanting tale of revelry and love.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Bridges Informance Series with Donald Byrd's renowned Spectrum Dance Theatre on Friday, January 9. Byrd recently choreographed Broadway's Tony-nominated hit The Color Purple, and he is the collaborator and co-director for BRT's upcoming World Premiere of What You Will.

Bristol Riverside Theatre concludes its Bridges Informance Series with Donald Byrd's renowned Spectrum Dance Theatre on Friday, January 9. Byrd recently choreographed Broadway's Tony-nominated hit The Color Purple, and he is the collaborator and co-director for BRT's upcoming World Premiere of What You Will.

Bristol Riverside Theatre celebrates the holiday season with its Winter Musicale from December 11 - 21, 2008. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Keith Baker, this BRT tradition for the entire family features an evening of traditional carols, popular classics, contemporary arrangements and even original songs, such as 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' 'Merry Christmas Baby,' 'Go Tell It On the Mountain,' 'Baby, It's Cold Outside,' 'The Little Drummer Boy,' and '12 Days of Christmas.'

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its Bridges Informance Series with visionary Hip Hop Theatre artist Will Power on Friday, December 5. Viewed as a pioneer in the genre of Hip Hop Theatre, Power has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work.

Bristol Riverside Theatre celebrates the holiday season with its Winter Musicale from December 11 - 21, 2008. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Keith Baker, this BRT tradition for the entire family features an evening of traditional carols, popular classics, contemporary arrangements and even original songs, such as 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' 'Merry Christmas Baby,' 'Go Tell It On the Mountain,' 'Baby, It's Cold Outside,' 'The Little Drummer Boy,' and '12 Days of Christmas.'

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its Bridges Informance Series with visionary Hip Hop Theatre artist Will Power on Friday, December 5. Viewed as a pioneer in the genre of Hip Hop Theatre, Power has created his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today series and welcomes playwright Michael Elyanow for a staged reading of his play Lullaby.

Brian Friel's MOLLY SWEENEY will be presented by the 6th Street Playhouse.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its 2008-2009 season with Absurd Person Singular by British playwright Alan Ayckbourn, one of the most prolific and widely performed of English language playwrights. Gus Kaikkonen directs this charming, modern romantic comedy that looks at the game of love through the kitchens of three married couples and their fortunes on Christmas.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its Bridges Informance Series with renowned theatre artist Teo Castellanos on Friday, October 17. Castellanos' appearance will continue to introduce audiences to innovative performances as BRT gears up for the February 2009 World Premiere of What You Will, a BRT original urban theatre adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night.

Brian Friel's MOLLY SWEENEY will be presented by the 6th Street Playhouse.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its Bridges Informance Series with renowned theatre artist Teo Castellanos on Friday, October 17. Castellanos' appearance will continue to introduce audiences to innovative performances as BRT gears up for the February 2009 World Premiere of What You Will, a BRT original urban theatre adaptation of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night.

Bristol Riverside Theatre is thrilled to kick off its Bridges Informance Series with renowned solo theatre artist Fred Curchack on Friday, September 5th.

Bristol Riverside Theatre will open its 2008-2009 season with the Philadelphia area premiere of The Spitfire Grill by James Valcq (music and book) and Fred Alley (lyrics).

Bristol Riverside Theatre welcomes Donald Byrd, acclaimed choreographer of Broadway's The Color Purple for its 2008-2009 Season.