PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE

Through three storms at sea, five far-away lands and one prince’s lifetime, Pericles, Prince of Tyre is an adventurous, romantic comedy complete with deadly pirates, charming princesses and a hero prince who takes a constant cosmic beating.  In this epic tale, treachery, incest and deadly abuses of power conspire to conquer goodness, love and dignity.  Can hopeful perseverance and good deeds change the world? 

Seldom produced, Pericles was co-authored by William Shakespeare who completed the work of his contemporary, the unscrupulous George Wilkins.  In this 2012 adaptation, the American Bard Artistic Ensemble and guest artists play multiple roles while creating a vivid aesthetic with fabrics, acoustic sounds, original music, and creative puppetry, reflecting the relevant and vital work of an emerging classic theater company in New York City.

From co-director and co-adaptor Natalie Doyle Holmes:  "I'm interested in using as many different theatrical constructs as needed to tell a story.  When I read Pericles, Prince of Tyre I believed there to be the potential to play with a world of theatrical goodies (puppets, music, fabrics, etc.). I saw the script as a gateway into a colorful world of playful textures, sights and sounds.  That's how it grabbed me.  Jack Herholdt and I "adapted" the script to plant a piece of ourselves in the story, make it our own, and feel an even closer connection to the work.  It's still very much Wilkins' and Shakespeare's script, and we like to think of it as Wilkins', Shakespeare's and the American Bard Theater Company's script as well."