‘Shakespeare in Love’ to open Burbage season

Oscar-winning film adaptation making R.I. premiere

PAWTUCKET – The Burbage Theatre Co announces the first production of its eighth season with the Rhode Island premiere of “Shakespeare in Love,” adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, based on the Academy Award-winning screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, and directed by Jeff Church, which opens for previews on Aug. 24 and closing on Sept. 16. “Shakespeare in Love is the most succinct, accessible, and absolutely delightful love letter to the theatre that has graced the stage in recent years,” said Church, Burbage’s artistic director, “But this play is so much more than a story of love triumphant and a bit with a dog. ‘Shakespeare in Love’ is about art’s ability to transcend the power of our oppressors and deliver salvation, if only for a moment. How our passion and sheer strength of will, through the theatre, may rise above the reality of our circumstances and, with the spark of imagination, yield the indelible. Much like Shakespeare’s own work, ‘Shakespeare in Love’ cannot be confined to any one genre, it contains multitudes. It is at once hysterical, hopeful, and tragic; rich with history and speculation; full of passion, imagination and love – love above all.” “Shakespeare in Love” runs from Aug. 24 to Sept. 16 at TEN31 Productions, 249 Roosevelt Ave. Tickets are $25 (general admission), $15 (students); preview performances are $15. Buy online at www. burbagetheatre.org. For more information, info@burbagetheatre.org or leave a message at (401)484-0355. There will be a pay-what-you-can performance on Friday, Aug. 25. The cast features Dillon Medina, Alison Russo, Jeff Church, Roger Lemelin, Andrew Stigler, Cassidy McCartan, Aaron Blanck, Nicolas Menna, Rae Mancini, James Lucey, Patrick Keeffe, Brian McGuirk, Gabe McCauley, Nick Griffin, Jack Clark, Gabrielle McCauley, Helena Tafuri, Brian Kozak and Andrew Iacovelli The production crew includes: Stage Management/lighting design, Jessica Winward; set design, Trevor Elliot; operations manager, Andrew Iacovelli; costume coordination, Morgan Clark; and production assis- tant, Liz Hallenbeck Schedule: Friday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m. Preview Performance Saturday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m., Pay-What-You-Can Performance Sunday, Aug. 26, 2 p.m., Preview Performance Friday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, 2 p.m.