Photo Flash: First Look at Dante's INFERNO at Washington Stage Guild

The Washington Stage Guild continues its Season of Life Lessons with a tour-de-force performance of one of the Western world's greatest texts. INFERNO, by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, is adapted and performed by five-time Helen Hayes Award nominee Bill Largess into a theatre piece that takes full advantage of all the effects that contemporary production can offer - a Hell of a show. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below!

The story of Dante's journey from error and darkness back to salvation was described by him as a pilgrimage through Hell, whose nine circles contain horror, humor, and everything in between. As he journeys he meets mythical monsters and historical figures, some of whom are unexpectedly among the damned. Last seen in DC in 2001, Inferno returns in a re-imagined form, directed by Laura Giannarelli.

Bill Largess, a lifelong Washingtonian who has been a part of the Washington theatre scene for over 30 years, is a founding member of the Washington Stage Guild and has been artistic director since 2008.

Laura Giannarelli is excited to collaborate with Mr. Largess on this new production of his adaptation of Inferno, having been a rapt audience member twelve years ago when he and founding Artistic Director John MacDonald so indelibly premiered the piece. A founding member of the Stage Guild, she has appeared with the company in more than 40 productions over the past 27 seasons. Most recently, she was Mrs. Pierce in Pygmalion at the Stage Guild and she made her professional directorial debut with Village Wooing, half of last season's Wives and Wits.

Kirk Kristlibas, who designed the sets for the Stage Guild's Pygmalion and costumes for Tryst, will design the setting for Hell, and Helen Hayes Award Recipient William Pucilowsky will design costumes. Frank DeSalvo, Jr. will be making his Stage Guild debut as Sound Designer. Marianne Meadows returns as Lighting Designer along with Arthur Nordlie as Stage Manager.

Location for all performances is the The Undercroft Theatre of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. The Undercroft Theatre is located in the heart of downtown Washington, on the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and 9th Street, NW. It's steps from the Convention Center, and blocks from the National Mall, the Smithsonian, the Verizon Center, Chinatown, and restaurants galore.

INFERNO by Dante, adapted & performed by Bill Largess, runs through March 17, 2013. For information and reservations, call 240 582-0050, email info@stageguild.org or go to www.stageguild.org.

Photo Credit: C. Stanley Photography

Bill Largess as the Pilgrim

Bill Largess as the Pilgrim

Bill Largess as the Pilgrim

Bill Largess as the Pilgrim