20/10 Kick-off Party

To celebrate the kick-off of our new 20/10 discount ticket program, the Shakespeare Theatre Company invites all the kids (that’s 35 years and younger to us) to a different night of classic theatre.

Tuesday November 6th @ 7:30 p.m.
$10 tickets
See Tamburlaine at the brand new Sidney Harman Hall!
Click here to reserve a spot.
•Dance to DJ Quadratic!
•Enjoy drink specials all night!
•Post-show cast party!
•Fantastic Door prizes!
•You must be 35 or younger.
•You must be 21 or older to drink alcohol with proper ID.



Photo of Tamburlaine ensemble by Carol Rosegg.

Blogging Harman Hall and Tamburlaine -- Part 2

More coverage from STC's Blogger Preview event, which we hosted on Oct. 23.

Rocketboom, a video blog out of New York, has a feature today.

And yesterday, the Penn Quarter Living blog posted an entry.

Talking About "Edward II" & "Tamburlaine"

Christopher Marlowe’s plays “Edward II” and “Tamburlaine” both deal with power and ambition.

What parallels do you see with modern day politics and politicians?

Post a comment and tell us what you think.

Avery Brooks as Tamburlaine (October 30, 2007, to January 6, 2008) and Wallace Acton as Edward II (October 27, 2007, to January 6, 2008). Photos by Carol Rosegg.

STC Twitterer

M. William Shiner, our Resident Production Stage Manager, is "twittering" about rehearsals for the Marlowe repertory. Check it out here and subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Twitter is a website where people from across the globe answer one simple question: What are you doing? Shiner has been providing frequent updates (aka twittering) about what goes on in the rehearsal rooms for Tamburlaine and Edward II.

Blogging Harman Hall and "Tamburlaine"

The Shakespeare Theatre Company hosted a Blogger Preview of its new Sidney Harman Hall and its opening production of Tamburlaine. The first of the coverage is posted on DC Theatre Scene. Check it out here.

Marlowe Videos

We've uploaded our Marlowe Rep Meet the Cast videos to our webpage. Take a look:

Christopher Marlowe: Childhood and Education

Listen as our Literary Expert, Akiva Fox, explains that without Marlowe there would be no Shakespeare.

Tamburlaine: A new style of play

Akiva Fox explains how Tamburlaine recreated how people understood theatre and started the Elizabethan Era.

Two Great Rivals: Marlowe and Shakespeare

Akiva Fox explains how Marlowe and Shakespeare challenged each other and wrote responses to each other within their plays.

Marlowe's Death

Marlowe died young, but his work carried on and inspired Shakespeare.

Who is Tamburlaine

Director Michael Kahn discusses the dueling sides of Tamburlaine.

The Story of Edward II

Director Gale Edwards explains the story of a man who did not want to be king.

Join us as we perform these plays in rotating repertory: Edward II and Tamburlaine.

Taming of the Shrew Trailer!

Get a sneak peek of our production of The Taming of the Shrew with our trailer.

For more information about the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of The Taming of the Shrew click here.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Rebecca Bayla Taichman

Hometown: Port Jefferson, Long Island
Most recent project: The Taming of the Shrew at the Shakespeare Theatre Company

Play you would most like to direct: the list grows every day

What's on your iPod? (mp3, cd player, etc.):
a little bit of everything - from Bach to Talking Heads, Cat Power to La Boheme, Imogen Heap to Wynton Marsalis

Favorite Shakespearean Play:
King Lear (and it will be a while before I've earned directing it)

What do you love about D.C.:
the incredible generosity and intelligence of the audiences

Favorite Shakespearean Villain: Iago

What's next after The Taming of the Shrew: I am directing a brilliant new play by David Adjmi at The Yale Repertory Theater called The Evildoers.

Why did you want to direct this play?It's an eerie, cranky play that's full up with contradictions and ironies. It's at once hilarious and painful. I am interested in how it both critiques and upholds a sexist society, and its vicious portrait of violent and very real love.

What has become your favorite scene in the play and why?I have lots of favorites, but I'd have to say it's somewhere between the wooing scene and the last scene of the play. Both were challenging in the extreme—for very different reasons. The challenge of the last scene is obvious; Kate's speech is profoundly painful and extremely provocative. The wooing scene is just plain sexy fun, and yet difficult to stage. Balancing the heat and wordplay with Kate's extreme vulnerability and locating real love in the ferocity of an argument were terrific challenges.


The set of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman. Set design by Narelle Sissons. Photo by Scott Suchman.

What people are saying about Shrew

Patricia, a young writer in the Washington area, recently saw The Taming of the Shrew and blogged about it.

Another audience member posted the following comment on the STC blog (from Josch):

The best adaptations I have seen of this play with dazzling sets, costuming and direction. The lead characters were marvelous and their interpretations of their characters truly inspired. And where usually there are some weaknesses in minor casting, none was visible here. An outstanding cast, all around. Leaving aside our own current ideas of gender equality, this production is as perfect as anyone could have wished for. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and this after thirty years of watching Shakespeare productions.

You can add your own comments as well.

Picture: The ensemble of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman. Set design by Narelle Sissons. Photo by Scott Suchman.

The Taming of the Shrew Opening Night Post-Performance Party Photos

Austin Grill, located around the corner from the Lansburgh Theatre, was our host for the Opening Night Post-Performance celebrations!

This was a time to meet and mingle with friends, patrons, donors, production staff and actors. Plus the food and beverages were tasty!!

Alan Harris and Cast Member Charlayne Woodard

Director Rebecca Bayla Taichman and Cast Member Drew Eshelman

Cast Member Christopher Innvar, Theodore Snead and Cast Member Charlayne Woodard

Cast Member Christopher Innvar and Director Rebecca Bayla Taichman

All photos are by Kevin Allen.

Thanks to the Cast and Crew of The Taming of the Shrew, the Shakespeare Theatre Company staff, our patrons and our friends for a great celebration~

Costumes and Sets for Shrew

Check out our slide shows on the costume designs and set designs for our production of The Taming of the Shrew.

Opening Gala

On Monday, October 1, 2007, we officially Opened the Harman Center for the Arts!!!

Fireworks after the performances at the Harman Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Kevin Allen.

“This is a historic moment for the Shakespeare Theatre Company and for all of the performing arts in Washington, D.C.,” Landon Butler, Chairman of the Shakespeare Theatre Company Board of Trustees, said. “Sidney Harman Hall and the Lansburgh Theatre, which compose the Harman Center for the Arts, meet a longstanding need of many Washington-based performing arts organizations for midsized venues in the District of Columbia.”

At left: Dr. Sidney Harman and Representative Jane Harman and Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Kevin Allen.

At right: Artistic Director Michael Kahn at the Harman the Harman Center for the Arts Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

This was a great opportunity to thank our donors and showcase the abilities of our space. Sam Waterston served as Master of Ceremonies and performers included: ballet dancers Nina Ananiashvili and Julio Bocca, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, actress Patti LuPone, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter accompanied by Ayami Ikeba, The Washington Ballet, Washington Performing Arts Society’s (WPAS) Men and Women of the Gospel Mass Choir and actors from the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

The production was directed by Ethan McSweeny and designed by Helen Hayes Award-winner Robert Perdziola.

After these performances, fireworks were ignited from the rooftop for all spectators. Then a grand dinner dance was offered at the neighboring National Building Museum.

Dancers of the Washington Ballet performing at the Harman Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Edward Gero, Kelly McGillis, Patrick Page and Jeffrey Carlson performing at the Harman Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Nina Ananiashvili and Julio Bocca performing at the Harman Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Carol Rosegg.

Street performers on the parade to dinner at the National Building Museum, part of the Harman Center for the Arts Opening Gala. Photo by Kevin Allen.