A new entity has arrived in New York City - an innovative and dynamic troupe of veteran actors from Broadway and Off-Broadway, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and top repertory companies in both the US and Britain - AQUILA THEATRE COMPANY LONDON/NEW YORK, the first mixed British/American Equity-Approved Company. Founded in 1990 by scholar Peter Meineck, Aquila has established itself as one of the foremost producers of touring classical theatre, winning international critical and academic acclaim for its work throughout Europe, the United States and Canada. It has been awarded the prize for Dramatic Excellence from the Greek government, and several prestigious British Council Touring awards.

Aquila will present brief engagements from their current tour: The Iliad, using a new American translation by Stanley Lombardo which was recently published to great acclaim; and Shakespeare's great tragedy King Lear, performed in repertory. The runs are necessarily short to accomodate already established touring schedules, but having just been approved by Equity as the first Mixed British/American company allowed to performed in NYC; and named the first professional Company-in Residence at the Center for Anicient Studies at New York University, it was felt that this was a perfect time to introduce their work to New York audiences.

The productions will play in repertory from Monday, November 22nd through Sunday, December 5th; and Tuesday, January 4th through Saturday, January 8th; at Clark Studio Theatre (70 Lincoln Center Plaza, Second Floor). The tour itself began at the end of September in South Carolina and runs continuously through a final month-long stay at the Folger Theatre in Washington DC in May/June, 2000. A production of Oedipus the King will also play in the touring repertory, and be part of the Folger engagement.

The production schedule is as follows: The Iliad will play 7PM & 9:30 PM on Monday 11/22, 11/29 (9:30 PM only), Tuesday 11/23, 11/30; Wednesday 11/24 & 12/1; Friday, 1/7 and Saturday 1/8. King Lear will play Friday, 11/26 & 12/3; Saturday, 11/27 &12/4; Sunday 11/28 and 12/5; Thursday 12/2 & 1/6 (dark Thanksgiving); Tuesday 1/4 and Wednesday 1/5; all at 8 PM. Tickets are $25; $15/students, groups (10 or more).

Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Peter Meineck and Associate Artistic Director Robert Richmond, Aquila presents fresh and inventive productions of classical drama designed to breathe life into the texts, freeing the spirit of the original work. Aquila has presented regular runs at The Shaw, Pleasance and Place Theatres in London and multiple performances in major cities across the United States; as well as special performance programs with leading museums and galleries including the British Museum, the McNay Art Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library. It has mounted eleven successful tours to North America, and presented the highly respected Aquila Education Program in over 60 American theaters and universities.

Isn't it time to brush up your Shakespeare?

See you Monday!

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