King Lear Sets Attendance Record

Robert Falls' production of King Lear, which prepares to close this weekend, has set a new attendance record for Harman Hall. With just 4 more performances to go, the show has already played to 102% of capacity.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the show and especially to those amazing patrons who have come back to see it on multiple occasions.

Thank you also to Stacy Keach and the entire wonderful cast who have made this memorable production one for the record books.

Phedre Screens at Harman Hall

When is a Helen Mirren movie not a Helen Mirren movie?

When it's an HD screening of her live performance of Phedre playing at the National Theatre in Great Britain. Yes, Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed production will be performing LIVE at Harman Hall in September, but you can see a recording of a live performance this Monday the 29th thanks to NT Live, the National Theatre's new live screening initiative.


In addition to the performance there will be a behind-the-scenes featurette on the show and on the National Theatre. It looks pretty cool.

Monday's performance is almost sold out which is why a second screening date was added for July 13th. All tickets are $22. Call 202.547.1122 to reserve seats (and yes, unlike a regular movie, it is not general admission, it's reserved seats.)

And for those of you who read the Washington Post Express religiously, let us assure you that Sidney Harman Hall is in fact in Penn Quarter and NOT in Southeast DC near Eastern Market as they reported.

Last Chance for Design for Living

Design for Living completes its run this weekend. A little tip: the final performance on Sunday is sold out, so your last chances to see Otto, Leo and Gilda (Tom Story, Robert Sella and Gretchen Egolf) do their thing at the Lansburgh are tonight, tomorrow and two performances on Saturday.

Enjoy!

King Lear Speaks ... Again

If you missed Stacy Keach's interview this week on The Diane Rehm Show on WAMU 88.5 FM, fret not. We just learned the interview will re-air this Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. Hear Mr. Keach discuss the demands of playing Lear, his brushes with the law and his colorful career in film, television and on the stage.

And is it just us, or does it sound like Diane has a little crush on Mr. Keach? Listen closely and tell us what you think.

Phedre Gets Raves at National Theatre

Phedre just opened at the National Theatre in London and, surprise, surprise, it got raves from the critics. Variety. New York Times. The Guardian. Check them out.

I particularly like this quote from The Guardian: "Mirren, in short, gives us a real woman poleaxed by passion; and, even if she doesn't supplant the memory of past performances by Glenda Jackson and Diana Rigg, she more than matches them." Matching Jackson and Rigg? That's high praise indeed. And "poleaxed by passion?" there's a turn of phrase that's going to linger.

Public tickets for it's STC run are, naturally, sold out. And the few seats we have remaining for new subscribers are quickly dwindling (just a handful really). But we also have tickets available for the HD Screenings. Actually, we've had to add a second screening on July 13 because the screening on June 29 is, of course, sold out. Sheesh. Do yourself a favor, if you want to see Dame Helen, grab tickets whenever you can.

Dominic Cooper and Helen Mirren star in the National Theater's production of 'Phedre.'

"Design for Living" Adds to Gay Marriage Debate

You can bet this article in the Washington Times caused a stir of emotional conversation backstage at the Lansburgh this weekend: Indictment of matrimony at odds with gay marriage - Washington Times . We can't tell if the author enjoyed the performances or not, but he definitely has strong opinions about Noel Coward's play itself.

BTW, thanks to everyone who stopped by our table at Capital Pride this weekend. What a beautiful day to be out and about in our nation's capital. Hundreds of people signed up to win tickets to Design for Living and King Lear and our winners are Amy J. of Norfolk, VA and Teresa W. of Cheverly, MD.

Pride Time

If you're headed down to the Capital Pride Festival this Sunday, be sure to stop by the Shakespeare Theatre Company table and say hello. We don't know where our table will be but you'll know us by the large bust of Shakespeare wearing a feather boa.

At the table you can pick up information on our 2009-2010 season and enter our drawing to win tickets to Design for Living (playing through June 28) as well as King Lear which starts previews on Tuesday. See you there!

Photo of Robert Sella and Tom Story by Scott Suchman.

Separated at Birth?

STC Associate Artistic Director David Muse has had an interesting dilemma lately. It seems he can't visit the Lansburgh Theatre without being congratulated multiple times for his delightfully funny performance in our current show Design for Living.

The problem: He's not in the show.

<- David Muse, not Robert Sella

Muse, who directed this season's Romeo and Juliet and will be directing next season's Henry V, bears an uncanny resemblance to Robert Sella who appears in Design for Living as the mercurial Leo. Audiences (and even some STC staff members) have been doing doubletakes throughout the run of the show.
Robert Sella, not David Muse ->

Sometimes the cases of mistaken identity border on the surreal. Muse remembers: "One night I was watching the show and then during intermission someone told me how good I was in the play. I guess they thought that Robbie was done playing his role, had changed into street clothes and was walking around the lobby."

It is not known if Sella, who has received rave reviews for his performance, has ever been mistaken for Muse.