Download hamlet - Los Angeles Women`s Shakespeare Company

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Press contact: Lucy Pollak
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Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and
Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
celebrate LAWSC’s 20th anniversary
with an all-female, multicultural production of
“HAMLET”
“Frailty, thy name is woman.”
– Act 1 scene 2, HAMLET
Los Angeles, Calif. (July 9, 2013) — An all-female, multi-cultural aesthetic offers new insight
when the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
co-present Hamlet in celebration of LAWSC’s 20th anniversary. Featuring a cast of 16 LAWSC
favorites and talented newcomers – including producing artistic director and celebrated
Shakespearean actress Lisa Wolpe in the title role – Hamlet opens for press on August 30 at
the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.
Continuing the LAWSC tradition of upending our expectations of Shakespeare’s familiar texts by
pricking our ears to listen anew to his masterful characters and plotting, the production evokes a
politically dynamic, sexually provocative and spiritually awakened frame of reference.
“I've long admired Lisa's unique experiment of tackling Shakespeare utilizing an all female
company of actors,” says OTE artistic director Ron Sossi. “It's the sort of gutsy artistic
excursion we thrive on here at the Odyssey.”
“This will be a richly appointed, classical production that mines the depth of Hamlet’s mystery,”
explains Wolpe, who co-directs with longtime colleague Natsuko Ohama. “Hamlet thinks with a
philospher’s mind, hoping to find a virtuous, authentic path through a dangerous world of
murderous monarchs. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to urge him to avenge his
death and kill his incestuous, usurping uncle Claudius, a terrifying supernatural world looms
larger than ever as six souls die violently and depart to eternal unrest.”
Co-directors Wolpe and Ohama shared the helm 18 years ago in LAWSC’s 1995 production of
Hamlet, in which they also alternated performing the title role. (In this current production,
Ohama will play opposite Wolpe as Polonius). The press celebrated the dynamic duo not only
for their brilliant casting, but also for their remarkable world-class staging. “A production that
matches anything found on the boards at the Royal Shakespeare Company… Critic’s Pick,”
wrote Backstage West, and Dramalogue raved, “This is a Hamlet to be studied and savored, a
revelation for newcomers to the text and a fresh awakening for veterans.”
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Odyssey Theatre Ensemble & L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Company present Hamlet, page 2
In addition to Wolpe and Ohama, the cast of this new Hamlet features Eve Gordon as
Gertrude; Veralyn Jones as Claudius; Chastity Dotson as Ophelia and Barnardo;
Kimberleigh Aarn as Horatio; Cynthia Beckert as Laertes; Elizabeth Swain as the Ghost
and Priest; Linda Bisesti as Osric and the Gravedigger; Katrinka Wolfson as Rosencrantz;
Cristina Frias as Guildenstern; and Ann Colby Stocking as the Player King, the sailor, and
Francisco.
Set design for Hamlet is by Don Llewellyn; lighting design is by Jeremy Pivnick; sound design
is by Cricket S. Myers; costume design is by A. Jeffrey Schoenberg; the assistant director is
Jennifer Sage Holmes; and the production stage manager is Rachel Myles.
In concert with this production of Hamlet, LAWSC will mentor college interns, offer educational
programs for high school and college drama students, and offer talkbacks and symposia before
and after select performances for the community at large – all part of the company’s ongoing
commitment to grass-roots work on community and connection.
Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company is an award-winning all-female, multi-cultural
theater company that produces the plays of Shakespeare. The unique and talented company
was named as “one of the ten coolest things to do in Los Angeles” by Los Angeles magazine,
has been featured on CNN, PBS, CBS, ABC, NBC and London’s International News, has won
dozens of awards, and was honored by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle with the 2008
Margaret Harford Award for “Sustained Excellence in Theater.”
The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's mission remains firm: the creation of new work; the
revitalization and re-exploration of classical material; consistent experimentation with the most
current developments at the forefront of the “state of the art” in the international theater world;
ongoing investigation of the “process” of creating theater; and continuing develop.m.ent of new
acting, directing and writing talent via the Actor's Laboratory, Play Develop.m.ent Program and
Emerging Directors Plan.
Lisa Wolpe an actress, director, teacher, playwright and the Founder and Producing Artistic
Director of the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company, with which she is currently
celebrating her 20th season. Roles for LAWSC include Richard III, Iago, Romeo, Shylock,
Angelo, Viola, Paulina, Ferdinand, Leontes, and more. She recently played Jason in
Medea/Macbeth/Cinderella and Polina in Seagull for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival,
presented her one-woman show Shakespeare & The Alchemy of Gender at Whittier College,
and frequently acts and directs around the country. Wolpe’s current production of Love’s
Labours Lost is playing this summer at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA.
Natsuko Ohama, also celebrating 20 years with LAWSC, is one of the premier voice teachers in
the country. A Drama Desk-nominated actress, Ohama is a sought-after talent for film and
television (Speed, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, PBS Playhouse, West Wing, Nip Tuck, ER and
the cult hit TV series Forever Knight), and has portrayed roles ranging from Hamlet to Prospero
for LAWSC. She is the recipient of the Playwright’s Arena Outstanding Contribution to Theater
Award and heads the Voice Progression for the MFA Acting Program at USC.
Performances of Hamlet take place on Fridays and Saturdays @ 8 p.m. and Sundays @ 2
p.m.*, Aug. 30 through Oct. 27. (*On Sunday, Sept. 1 only, the performance will be @ 5 p.m.
with no 2 p.m. matinee.) Additional weeknight performances are scheduled on Wednesdays @
8 p.m. on Sept. 18, Oct. 2 and Oct. 16; and on Thursdays @ 8 p.m. on Sept. 12, Sept. 26,
Oct. 10 and Oct. 24. Tickets are $30, except for the performance on Saturday, August 31 which
is $45 and includes a gala reception following the performance. The Odyssey Theatre is
located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and
information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.
Odyssey Theatre Ensemble & L.A. Women’s Shakespeare Company present Hamlet, page 3
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Details for Calendar Listings
“HAMLET”
WHAT:
Hamlet – Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
present an elegant, all-female classical production of Hamlet as revealed through women’s voices.
Continuing the LAWSC tradition of upending our expectations of Shakespeare’s familiar texts by
pricking our ears to listen anew to his masterful characters and plotting, the production evokes a
politically dynamic, sexually provocative and spiritually awakened frame of reference. A highly
accomplished classical cast of women is led by LAWSC founder/artistic director Lisa Wolpe in the
title role, with award-winning film, television and theatrical star Eve Gordon as Gertrude.
WHO:
Written by William Shakespeare
Directed by Lisa Wolpe and Natsuko Ohama
Starring Kimberleigh Aarn (Horatio); Cynthia Beckert (Laertes); Linda Bisesti (Gravedigger);
Chastity Dotson (Ophelia); Cristina Frias (Guildenstern); Eve Gordon (Gertrude); Veralyn Jones
(Claudius); Natsuko Ohama (Polonius); Ann Colby Stocking (Player King,Francisco); Elizabeth
Swain (Ghost, Priest); Katrinka Wolfson (Rosencratz); and Lisa Wolpe (Hamlet)
Set design by Don Llewellyn
Lighting design by Jeremy Pivnick
Sound design by Cricket S. Myers
Costume design by A. Jeffrey Schoenberg
Assistant director Jennifer Sage Holmes
Production Stage Manager Rachel Myles
Produced by Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company
Presented by the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Ron Sossi artistic director
WHEN:
August 30-Oct. 27
Wednesdays @ 8 p.m.: Sept. 18; Oct. 2, 16 only
Thursdays @ 8 p.m.: Sept. 12, 26; Oct. 10, 24 only
Fridays @ 8 p.m.: Aug. 30 (Press Opening); Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27; Oct. 4,11, 18, 25
Saturdays @ 8 p.m.: Aug. 31 (Gala Reception); Sept. 7, 14, 21, 28; Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26
Sundays @ 2 p.m.: Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29; Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27
Sundays @ 5 p.m.: Sept. 1 only
WHERE:
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90025
HOW:
(310) 477-2055 ext. 2 or www.OdysseyTheatre.com
TICKETS:
All performances except Saturday, Aug. 31: $30
Saturday, Aug. 31: $45 (includes a gala reception following the performance)
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