Bruns Amphitheater (Orinda, CA)
Somewhere between the craggy shores of tragedy and the loopy swells of comedy lies Shakespeare's Pericles, the tale of a prince, his wife, and their daughter, all separated by the whims of fate (and the hands of evildoers). Acclaimed Minneapolis-based director Joel Sass makes his West Coast directorial debut with this wild fairy tale.
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The last date listed for Pericles was Saturday June 21, 2008 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
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A puerile plot and characters, an utter absence of character arc, plus the usual challenges of apprehending Shakespeare, especially in the park, where you lose a lot of the words amid the (oft windy) open air.
Kudos, however, to the dramaturg and graphics person, who did a great job of providing a summary and analysis, beautifully laid out in the program.
Perfect evening -- good actors -- just a tough play to watch
A perfect night out under the stars at the Brun Memorial Theater in Orinda. The Pericles cast was phenomenal. An amazing group of actors who each portrayed several characters. We couldn't believe the cast was as small when it was curtain call. The set was well done and used the outdoor setting to enhance the experience. Overall, a great night. Only thing I'd recommend for our next outdoor performance: bug spray!
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The magnificent Bruns Amphitheater, is one of the most beautiful and unique settings imaginable to experience live theater. Located in the East Bay Hills between Berkeley and Orinda, the venue is set against a beautiful backdrop of rolling hills and summer sky. Doors open two hours before curtain so you can savor a picnic and relax in the beautiful eucalyptus and oak groves. Classic Catering's
Website: http://www.calshakes.org/v4/ourplays/pericles.html
Pericles' director, Joel Sass, first came to Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone's attention when he was on the panel that awarded Joel 2007 Theater Communications Group's "Alan Schneider Director Award" for exceptional directors who are emerging on the national theater scene. "Joel immediately struck me as possessing that rare combination of intellectual rigor and abundant creativity. He's created an eight person version of Pericles, with music and singing, a real rollercoaster ride for the imagination. His approach celebrates storytelling at its most theatrical, and I believe he's going to give us a thrilling experience of one Shakespeare's wildest and woolliest adventures."
Sass is the Associate Artistic Director of The Jungle Theater and was Artistic Director of the now-dissolved, critically acclaimed Mary Worth Theatre Company, both located in Minneapolis. Among his many credits, Sass has directed Pericles at the Guthrie Theatre; I Am My Own Wife at The Jungle Theater; Lettice and Lovage at Theatre de la Jeune Lune; and many productions at the award-winning Mary Worth Theatre Company. His current projects include Shining City for The Jungle Theater, Nine Parts of Desire for the Guthrie, and a new meditation on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This is Sass’ West Coast directorial debut. Cal Shakes has previously presented Pericles, Prince of Tyre in 1979 and 1997.
The ensemble cast of Pericles includes: Chris Kelly (Pericles/Pandar) in his Cal Shakes debut. Kelly has worked at theaters around the country including most recently Macbeth at the New Victory in New York and spent five seasons in residence at the Denver Center Theatre Company. The cast also features Delia MacDougall (Thaisa/Bawd) appearing last season in Man and Superman and King Lear; Danny Scheie (Helicanus/Simonides/Boult) who portrayed Arlecchino in The Triumph of Love; Associate Artists Ron Campbell (Antiochos/Cleon) and Domenique Lozano (Dionyzia/Cerimon), who also both appeared in The Triump of Love; Sarah Nealis (Marina/Antiochus’ Daughter) who played Cordelia in King Lear in 2007; recent A.C.T. grad Alex Morf (Lysimachus/Thaliard/Leonine) who recently performed in A.C.T.’s The Rainmaker; And reprising his role from the Joel Sass Guthrie Theater production of Pericles, Shawn Hamilton (Gower/Lychordia).
The creative team includes Melpomene Katakalos (Set Designer); Raquel M. Barreto (Costume Designer); Russell H. Champa (Lighting Designer); and Jeff Mockus (Sound Designer).
Friday, June 13: The Pericles Shindig
Attend a special happy hour, then stay for the show! Cal Shakes’ young professionals’ night is a happy hour bash that takes place an hour and a half before the show. It features a pirate punch--a game to help you get to know some of the show's nearly 50 characters--and includes music, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and a ticket to that night's performance.
The California Shakespeare Theater is committed to being a leading community citizen by nourishing the imaginations of audiences, artists and learners of all ages. We are dedicated to creating boldly imagined and deeply entertaining interpretations of Shakespeare's plays, fresh rediscoveries of important works of World Theater, and new works inspired by classic literature. Through our Artistic Learning programs, we are devoted to providing meaningful and accessible educational opportunities to a diversity of learners throughout the Greater Bay Area.