A Noise Within Presents Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA - March 3 to May 13 February 25, 2012

A NOISE WITHIN,
LOS ANGELES’ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
CLASSICAL REPERTORY THEATRE COMPANY,
PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE’S TOWERING
ANTONY AND CLEOPARTRA

Saturday, March 3, to Sunday, May 13, 2012
(previews begin Saturday, February 25)

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, showcases the considerable capabilities of its new state-of-the-art Pasadena venue with a towering production of Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, directed by ANW Producing Artistic Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, with original music by composer Laura Karpman, opening Saturday, March 3 and closing Sunday, May 13, 2012 (previews begin Saturday, February 25). This seminal tragedy is based on larger-than-life figures caught up in an empire-shattering dance of lust, love, politics and war. A "Pay What You Can” date, which allows patrons to purchase tickets for what they can afford, is Thursday, March 1.

Long on the ANW wish list, Antony and Cleopatra was an early choice for A Noise Within's inaugural Pasadena season in the company’s permanent new home, according to Elliott and Rodriguez-Elliott. Both history play and sweeping love story, the play is undeniably one of the most challenging works in the Shakespeare canon to bring to the stage. “Until now, we just didn’t have the physical capability to give this play, with its many battle scenes and great surround, the grandness it deserves,” they note. “The depth of our new theatre has opened up tremendous artistic possibilities.”

About the play itself, Rodriguez-Elliott says, “Its appeal is the fascinating relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, who love each other deeply but in a way that is not sustainable. They have a larger than life love affair, which is destructive, exhilarating and, at times, widely satisfying, while they are running countries in turmoil. Because of their flaws, we can identify with the lovers and see a part of ourselves in them.”

The cast includes Geoff Elliott (Mark Anthony), Jeanie Hackett (Cleopatra), Max Rosnak (Octavius Caesar), Bill Hunt (Lepidus/Rustic), Christian Rummel (Pompey/Scarus), Ken Merckx (Demetrius/Dercetus), Greg North (Agrippa), Robertson Dean (Enobarbus), Raphael Goldstein (Eros), Nick Crandall (Soothsayer/Thidius), Nathan Turner (Philo/Schoolmaster), Angela Gulnar (Octavia), Steve Weingartner (Menas/Dolabella), Thad Shafer (Proculeius), Jill Hill (Charmian), Diana Gonzalez-Morett (Iras), Amin El Gamal (Mardian), Chris Karbo (Diomedes), Dane Biren (Abused Mess/Seleucus) and Philip Rodriguez (Varrius). Tom Buderwitz is the set designer, and Angela Calin is the costume designer.

To enhance the theatre-going experience, A Noise Within offers comprehensive study guides for every production. Each includes a synopsis, director's notes, general theatre lore, links to other resources and detailed information about the playwright, characters, setting, period, costumes, scenic design, music and more. The Study Guides are available on-line at http://www.anoisewithin.org/education_studyguides.html.

A Noise Within (ANW) is the only year-round classical repertory company in Southern California and one of only a handful in the entire country dedicated solely to producing classical dramatic literature in the repertory tradition of rotating productions with a resident company of professional artists. Led by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, A Noise Within has been hailed by critics as a “premiere classical theatre company,” and an "outstanding ensemble" whose "vibrantly theatrical" "brilliant productions" are "freshly imagined," "exceptional," "invigorating," "riveting," "brilliantly atmospheric," “inspired,” and “masterfully crafted.”

With substantially more space than its previous Glendale venue, A Noise Within’s new theatre meets demand for tickets by allowing annual audience capacity to increase from 25,000 to 50,000 people, and the company's highly regarded education program will be able to double to 20,000 the number of students served each year. Together, this allows A Noise Within to expand its role as a leader in the presentation and preservation of classical theatre.

The venue is located in the former Stuart Pharmaceutical building, a historic, mid-century modern masterpiece designed by celebrated architect Edward Durell Stone, known for landmark buildings around the country including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and Radio City Music Hall in New York. Constructed in the mid-1950s, the Stuart Pharmaceutical building was listed on the National Register in 1998 and features a striking landscape garden designed by Thomas Church. The completely new three-story theatre – which retains the building's original façade -- features support facilities, offices, rehearsal space, a classroom, considerable storage for costumes, props and scenery and large restrooms. There is plentiful, convenient, free parking in the adjacent Gold Line's Sierra Madre Villa Metro parking structure.

Single tickets are $46 (Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees); $42 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings and Saturday matinees); and $34 (previews). Groups (10 or more) are $27 (weekdays and Saturday matinees), and $32 (Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees); School Groups (10 or more) are $16 (weekdays and matinees), or $20 (Saturday evenings). "Pay What You Can" tickets for the Thursday, March 1 performance are sold at the box office the day of the performance for cash only on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability, with a limit of two per person.

A NOISE WITHIN is located on the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Sierra Madre Villa Avenue at 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107. Free self-parking is located in the Sierra Madre Villa Metro parking structure, with entrances on northbound Sierra Madre Villa Avenue or North Halstead Street. To purchase tickets, call (626) 356-3100 ext. 1 or visit www.ANoiseWithin.org.

WHO:
A Noise Within – one of the nation’s leading classical repertory theatre companies

WHERE:
A Noise Within
3352 East Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107

TICKET PRICES:
Single Tickets
$46 (Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees);
$42 (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings, Saturday matinees);
($34 (previews);

Group rates and special rates for school groups available

TICKETS & INFO:
(626) 356-3100 ext. 1
www.ANoiseWithin.org

WHAT:
SHAKESPEARE’S ANTHONY AND CLEOPATRA
Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, directors

Cast
Geoff Elliott (Mark Anthony)
Jeanie Hackett (Cleopatra)
Max Rosnak (Octavius Caesar)
Bill Hunt (Lepidus/Rustic)
Christian Rummel (Pompey/Scarus)
Ken Merckx (Demetrius/Dercetus)
Greg North (Agrippa)
Robertson Dean (Enobarbus)
Raphael Goldstein (Eros)
Nick Crandall (Soothsayer/Thidius)
Nathan Turner (Philo/Schoolmaster)
Angela Gulnar (Octavia)
Steve Weingartner (Menas/Dolabella)
Thad Shafer (Proculeius)
Jill Hill (Charmian)
Diana Gonzalez-Morett (Iras)
Amin El Gamal (Mardian)
Chris Karbo (Diomedes)
Dane Biren (Abused Mess/Seleucus)
Philip Rodriguez (Varrius)
TBA (Taurus)
TBA (Boy Singer)

Crew
Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott (Directors)
Meghan Grey (Stage Manager)
Tom Buderwitz (Scenic Designer)
Angela Calin (Costume Designer)
Ken Booth (Lighting Designer)
Laura Karpman (Composer)
Renee Cash (Props Master)
Monica Sebedra (Hair/Wigs)
Ken Merckx (Choreography)
Andrew Ellis (Technical Director)
Kellsy MacKilligan (Costume Shop Manager)

Previews:
Saturday, February 25, 8pm
Wednesday, February 29, 8pm
Thursday, March 1, 8pm
Friday, March 2, 8pm

Opens:
Saturday, March 3, 8pm

Runs:
Sunday, March 4, 2pm
Thursday, March 22, 8pm
Friday, March 23, 8pm
Friday, April 13, 8pm
Saturday, April 21, 2pm
Saturday, April 21, 8pm
Sunday, April 29, 2pm
Sunday, April 29, 7pm
Friday, May 4, 8pm
Saturday, May 12, 8pm
Sunday, May 13, 2pm

Official Website: http://www.anoisewithin.org