The University at Albany Department of Theatre
is pleased to present the world premiere of Famous by Their Birth: Shakespeare’s
Power Plays as its final offering of the 2007-08 season. The production will run for eight
performances in the Arena Theatre at the University at Albany
Performing Arts Center on the uptown
campus from April
25 – May 3, 2008.
An original work
conceived by guest artist Jeffrey Mousseau, the play examines
what drives our leaders – be it ambition, greed, fame and/or vision. In it, Shakespeare’s
best scenes are assembled to illuminate what goes on in the minds of those in
charge. According to Mousseau who
also directs the production, “This work
is being created specifically to connect with contemporary American politics
and the U.S. presidential
election. The piece draws upon five of Shakespeare's most political plays (Julius Caesar, Henry V, Richard II, Richard III and Coriolanus) to examine the inner workings of power: of those who
have it, seek it and lose it, and society's relationship with its leaders. The
production is being staged in a brisk, modern style that audiences should find
compelling. The piece illuminates, in an accessible way, Shakespeare's
universality and contemporary relevance by drawing allusions to current issues
including the Iraq War and religion's influence in government. ”
Mousseau
is happy to return to UAlbany having directed Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party last year. He is a director, producer and program
curator dually based in New York City
and Hudson. Current directing projects include Aunt Leaf, a new play with music for
young audiences developed in collaboration with New Dramatist playwright
Barbara Wiechmann at HERE Arts
Center and 110 Flights by UAlbany graduate Nahal Navidar as part of Proctors’
New Play Festival. Recent directing
credits include First Family: 365
Days/365 Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks at the HERE
Arts Center;
the regional premiere of I Am My Own Wife
at Stageworks/Hudson
(named a “top ten” production by Metroland)
and Dance Soup, a dance-theatre
piece for children at the Tribeca Performing
Arts Center. Mousseau was the Founding Artistic Director
of Coyote Theatre in Boston and, of
his many directorial credits there, highlights include
productions of Bash, Miss Julie, American Notes, Uncle Tom’s
Cabin, Fool for Love, The Mad Dog Blues and Blue Window. In 2007, he was the General Manager of the First National Asian American
Theater Festival. Mousseau has also been
the resident artist at the HERE Arts
Center.
The schedule for Famous by Their Birth: Shakespeare’s Power Plays
includes performances on Friday, April 25 at 8pm; Saturday, April 26 at
2pm
& 8pm; Wednesday through Friday, April 30
– May 2 at 8pm and Saturday, May 3 at 2pm.
Tickets
are $12 for the general public and $8 for students, seniors and UAlbany
faculty/staff and may be purchased through the Performing Arts Center Box
Office. For further information, contact
the Box Office at (518) 442-3997 or visit the Performing Arts Center website at
www.albany.edu/pac.
There
will also be a special morning matinee performance of the production for high school groups. This performance is scheduled
for Tuesday, April 29 at 10am. Information
and reservations for this matinee are available by calling the Performing
Arts Center office at (518) 442-5738.
