For Immediate Release, please…                                                              Media Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 901-759-0620

July 26, 2010

Boundless as the Sea

Tennessee Shakespeare Company Announces Successful Second Stage Season

and its 2010-11 Productions

* Othello and Romeo and Juliet to play *

* A Midsummer Night’s Dream collaboration with IRIS Orchestra *

* The Valentine’s Masque Gala in Memphis *

{Germantown, TN} -- Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South’s professional classical theatre, recently completed its Second Stage Season, far surpassing its inaugural season’s artistic, student, audience, and revenue projections.

In less than two years, nearly 9,000 schoolchildren from 43 schools have seen TSC productions and participated in playshops and in-school residencies (like those at Soulsville Charter School and St. Mary’s School).  During this period, more than 10,000 audience members have attended TSC productions.

Additionally, TSC has generated a $1.2 million economic impact within its community, as calculated by Dr. David Ciscel, Dean of Business School at Christian Brothers University in Memphis.

For more figures on TN Shakespeare’s FY10 Annual Report, please go to www.tnshakespeare.org.

“The most unique thing I have ever experienced since working in the performing arts occurred this past season,” said Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Dan McCleary.  “People aged 22 and younger made up most of our audience!   Other than programs specifically aimed at that age range, I know of few other arts organizations that can say this.  Not only that, but our audiences aged 18 and younger were most likely to have brought their parents back a second time, and because we encourage our audiences to talk to us, certainly our students, these young members of our audience have programmed our third season.  They told us want they wanted to explore with us, and we are going to produce those plays.  Their enthusiasm and ownership of their Shakespeare company is one of our most heartening endorsements.”

The critical and popular success of TSC’s Second Stage Season with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the all-female Julius Caesar at City Hall helped generate student enthusiasm, which in turn had TSC teaching-artists and actors in the schools almost daily leading playshops and residencies. 

Education programming grew by more than 300% over Season One, and current Summer Camps for young participants, including TSC’s first Young Company of actors in training, are near capacity. 

The Second Stage Season was made possible by both its successful programming and its 240 private, foundation, business, and government donors.  TSC’s season sponsors were The Barbara B. Apperson Angel Fund, Nancy and Dan Copp, The City of Germantown, Milton T. Schaeffer, and Audrey Taylor.

TSC also launched is first endowment during the season, The Dunbar Abston Fund for Sustainable Excellence, which ensures the employment of professional actors and stage managers on TSC’s stages. The Fund is managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis.

TSC’s Board of Directors also expanded with the additions of Dr. Owen Tabor (President), Mr. Tod Holtzclaw of International Paper, Mr. Shaye Mandle of the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis, and legendary Memphian, Mr. John Paul Jones.

Performance Season Three: Boundless as the Sea

TSC’s third season features the return of three of TSC’s most popular actors in William Shakespeare’s towering tragedy, Othello, directed by McCleary.  Chicago native Johnny Lee Davenport (Oberon in last year’s production of Dream; also films Blues Brothers, U.S. Marshals, The Fugitive) returns to play the title role that has won him critical acclaim over the last two decades.  Joining Davenport is Atlanta’s Tony Molina (Bottom last season) as the honor-bound Cassio and NYC’s Vanessa Morosco (Helena and Cassius last season) as Emilia and the Doge of Venice.  The production also will introduce NYC-based actors Paul Bernardo as the incongruous villain Iago and Katherine Abbruzzesi as the courageous Desdemona.

Othello will play October 5-17, 2010, inside Germantown’s St. George’s Church with greatly improved acoustics and sight-lines.  Tickets for Othello go on sale beginning August 5 at www.tnshakespeare.org or call 901-759-0604.  Othello is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Circle the Date: TSC’s special 24-hour 60% Discount Sale begins at 12:01 a.m. on August 4 until the following midnight.  While tickets last, get 60% off regularly priced seats for the Sunday, October 10 matinee performance of Othello.  Purchases may be made on-line, in person at TSC’s office, or by speaking to a sales associate by phone.  Limited to 10 tickets per order, this sale is valid for only 24 hours.  All seating is general admission, and all transaction fees apply.  No other discounts may be used.

TSC will launch its first Mid-South touring production in the spring with William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet playing April 27 – May 8, 2011.  The two-hour production will play in one or more natural settings within Shelby County for public evening performances, outdoors or indoors.  Additionally, the show will travel to Germantown, Memphis, and Mid-South elementary, middle, and high schools, accompanied by playshops and in-school residencies. 

For more school information on student matinee tickets to Othello and the Romeo and Juliet touring production and residencies, please contact TSC’s Education Manager, Slade Kyle at 901-759-0620.

TSC will collaborate with conductor Michael Stern and IRIS Orchestra on an evening of A Midsummer Night’s Dream compositions by Michael Gandolfi.  TSC actors will perform with the orchestra to present Shakespeare’s song-infused play and its characters as a joyous and original piece of theatre.  The concert plays at Germantown Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 26, 2011.  For tickets and more information, please call GPAC’s box office at 901-751-7500

TSC’s Annual Gala, Love Letters: The Valentine’s Masque will be the perfect sweetheart weekend event for dancing, singing, and bidding on exclusive live and silent auction items and get-a-ways.  Hosted by TSC’s Board of Directors, coordinated by Sally Shy with Jimmy Rout, and featuring company actors performing the love letters of celebrated couples throughout history, the Valentine’s Masque will play Saturday evening, February 12, 2011, at the University of Memphis’ Holiday Inn ballroom.

Receive all the season announcements and special discount offers as they become available by logging onto www.tnshakespeare.org and signing up for TSC’s e-newsletter today.          

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