BAREFOOT SHAKESPEARE COMPANY & Company of Fools PRESENT
Measure for Measure
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
ALCHEMICAL STUDIOS, 104 WEST 14TH STREET, NEW YORK CITY
JUNE 20 – 23 AND 27 – 30
New York, NY, June 10, 2019: Barefoot Shakespeare Company and Company of Fools are teaming up for an Equity Approved Showcase production of “Measure for Measure,” one of Shakespeare’s so called “problem plays”.
Vienna is in turmoil after two decades of societal upheaval, and Duke Vincentio has abruptly decided to flee the city, leaving his faithful deputy, Angelo, in charge. Determined to put an end to moral corruption in Vienna, Angelo decides to strictly enforce even the most Puritan laws. When a young man named Claudio is sentenced to death, his sister Isabella pleads to Angelo for Claudio’s life. In this production, we explore how our actions are guided by our deepest fears and foibles and ask what happens to a society when women’s voices are silenced.
The show is directed by Jenny Grober, “The story is confusing, the ethics are a disaster, and the verse is utter chaos. On every level the text of “Measure for Measure” is disjointed, unclean, at times beautiful, and in almost every instance and interpretation, deeply disturbing,“ says Grober. “This play is and should feel as uncomfortable as real life too often does. Let the play therefore not be a ‘problem’ to be fixed, but rather a guide to lead us deeper into the mire. We must have no catharsis onstage, concerning the subject of power dynamics and sexual assault, until we have realized it first in reality. We are perhaps closer in 2019 than we have ever been but are still unquestionably without resolution or redress. We may however use this text to force the problems to our view, and having led others to sit in this discomfort with us, we might yet stir one more person to action. That would be a success.”
The cast features: Matt Biagini*, Nazlah Black, Kelly Blaze*, Daniel Cabrera, Cameron Clarke, Emily Gallagher, Sania Hyatt, Latonia Phipps*, Clinton Powell, Lily Waldron. *Equity Member appearing with permission of Actors’ Equity Association.
Original music will be written by Nancy Chamberlain.
Shows will take place Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 8 PM; Friday, June 21, 2019 at 8 PM; Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 8 PM; Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 2 PM; Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 8 PM; Friday, June 28, 2019 at 8 PM; Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 8 PM; Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 2 PM. All performances will be at Alchemical Studios, 104 West 14th St. (1/2/3 to 14th St.). General admission $25.
About Barefoot Shakespeare Company
Barefoot Shakespeare Company was formed in 2012 with the mission of bringing Shakespeare’s work to a wide, diverse audience. We approach these texts with energy, enthusiasm, and excitement. Striving to create work that is grounded, accessible and applicable, we seek to dissolve the divide between spectator and performer. We explore the canon and produce both full scale as well as shortened, “ready to go” productions. We also lead in-school workshops that focus on text analysis and a hands-on approach to understanding and enjoying Shakespeare’s words.
About Company of Fools
Company of Fools is an emerging theatre company whose purpose is to innovate the bastion that is theatre by constantly challenging the limits of our own ability, study, and understanding. To this end, our mantra for our art is thus: “To dare to fail gloriously.” Our brand of theatre is one that does not shy away from the difficult road and is always willing to push the absolute edge of what we are capable of doing as artists. We do not limit ourselves to “tried and true” or safe productions, and we know above all else that our desire to push past the fear of failure can lead to unheard of success. We constantly strive for new works, new techniques, and new perspectives in our pursuit of artistic achievement.