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The Merchant Workshop

The Gilbert C. Eastman Studio Theatre at Gallaudet University (Elstad Annex)
Washington, DC

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The Merchant Workshop

Directed by Paul Reisman

Sunday, March 6th - Tuesday, March 8th
7:30pm

Eastman Theatre
Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave NE, WDC
*** Free Parking *** Metro: Red Line, NoMa-Gallaudet U.***

Select workshop showings are ASL Interpreted.

$5 suggested donation.

Running time: Approx 75 minutes; Appropriate for all ages.

Led by Associate Artistic Director, Paul Reisman, a company of six artists will explore workshop stagings of several scenes from one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays, in an effort to reclaim it from a modern discourse using Commedia dell'Arte as a lens to reveal the script's original humor, rich relationships, and sense of play.

Faction of Fools has a long history of re-examining Shakespeare's plays finding comedic roots in the most famous of his tragedies, from A Commedia Romeo & Juliet to Hamlecchino: Clown Prince of Denmark. In 2014, Titus Andronicus was lauded as "sanguineous bliss" by the Washington Post, and DC Theater Scene said "it will be be difficult to imagine Titus being played straight ever again."

This workshop production goes beyond a traditional reading, allowing the actors get up on their feet to perform selected scenes from the play with a focus on staging the text, using minimal sets, costumes and props. There will be a Q&A session as part of each performance, allowing the artists to discuss the workshop process, develop ideas, and hear from the audience. Many of Faction's biggest hits have come out of a workshop series, including A Commedia Romeo & Juliet and Hamlecchino (Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage), A Commedia Christmas Carol(Constellation Theatre) and Our Town (Arena Cradle Series).

Presented as part of Commedia dellArte Day, an annual international event on February 25th. Performers, scholars, and institutions around the world celebrate Commedia dellArte as theatrical performance and cultural heritage. For more info on Commedia dellArte Day, visit http://www.commediadellarteday.org/