Playhouse on Park To Present ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’
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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) will be presented at West Hartford's Playhouse on Park in June and July 2017. Submitted photo
West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park will present the witty ‘Abridged’ version of all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in just 97 minutes beginning with preview performances on July 28.
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The Today Show aptly describes Playhouse on Park‘s final Mainstage Series show for Season Eight: “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”
Opening night for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is Friday, June 30, at 8 p.m. with a wine and cheese reception beforehand. Preview performances are on June 28 and 29, with all seats priced at $17.50.
Back by popular demand, and written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, the cultural touchstone that is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) features all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, performed in 97 minutes, by three actors. To celebrate the 20th anniversary two of its original writer/performers (Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield) thoroughly revised the show to bring it up to date for 21st-century audiences. Fast paced, witty, and physical, it’s full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike.
Directed by Tom Ridgely, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) stars Sean Harris, Richard Hollman, and Hanna Cheek.
Sean Harris has performed on the Playhouse on Park stage in Art, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Dining Room, and The Hound of the Baskervilles. He is currently the one of the founders and Co-Artistic Directors of Playhouse on Park where he has directed several productions including Metamorphoses, Of Mice and Men, Cabaret, Angels in America, Hair, A Chorus Line, Last Train to Nibroc. Regional Theatres: Florida Studio Theatre, Shakespeare on the Sound, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. NYC Theatre: The Actors Studio, Circle in the Square Downtown, Bank Street Theatre, Theatre at Westbeth,Playhouse 22. Sean has his BA in Acting and Directing from DeSales University and an MFA from the New School for Drama/Actors Studio. He has been an acting teacher and director for over fourteen years and was the Director of Theatre at Hall High School, which was selected to represent the United States as part of the American High School Theatre Festival at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2010 and 2013, and 2015. He is currently a member of the theatre faculty at The Spence School in Manhattan. Upcoming Playhouse Projects: Director, In the Heights.
Rich Hollman’s New York Credits include: The Public Theater (The Blueprint Specials), Playwrights Horizons (The Zombies), The Cherry Lane (O-Jang Gun’s Toenail), La MaMa Etc. (A Case of Murder), The Lucille Lortel (Midsummer’s) REGIONAL: Playhouse on Park (Complete Works of Shakespeare, Art, Irma Vep, Hound of the Baskervilles) FILM AND TV: Law and Order (principal), As the World Turns (principal), Guiding Light (recurring), All My Children (recurring), Young Love (SF Indiefest), Actualized (NYTVF). IMPROV: People’s Improv Theater (The PIT) long running house team The Baldwins, touring company of Baby Wants Candy (musical). Rich has also written music professionally for numerous outlets and theater pieces inkling for Metamorphoses at PoP. He was a 2017 TEDx speaker (improv technique and compassionate behavior) and is the founder of Care Packages for the Homeless. Additionally, Rich has served on the PIT, Buckley, and New School University faculties and served as improv coach to the Real Housewives of NYC.
Hanna Cheek is a member of Drama Desk nominated theatre company Waterwell, as well as the critically acclaimed Pumpkin Pie Show. Described by TONY as a “downtown superstar” Cheek was named one of Time Out New York’s “Future Legends of NYC Theatre” . With Waterwell, she’s divised and performed in: GOODBAR (The Public), The/King/Operetta (
A special Tuesday matinee will be held on July 18 at 2pm, with all tickets priced at $22.50.
In conjunction with this production, the Playhouse on Park Young Professionals Advisory Board will be hosting a Young Professionals Night out on July 20. A networking reception will start at 6pm complete with wine and cheese, and tickets for Young Professional attendees (ages 21-35) will be reduced to only $20!
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) runs through July 30. Tickets range from $30-$40, with Senior, Student, and Let’s Go Arts discounts available. All Sunday matinees include a talkback with the director and cast after the performance. For your tickets, call the box office at 860-523-5900 x10 or visit www.playhouseonpark.org. Playhouse on Park is located at 244 Park Rd., West Hartford, CT 06119.
