THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE & DANCE PRESENTS

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S

LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST

APRIL 13-22, 2012

AT THE B. IDEN PAYNE THEATRE

PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION ON
SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 7:00 P.M.

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents William Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost April 13 – 22 at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. Directed by John Langs and set in a 1950’s Mediterranean courtyard, this coming-of-age story follows four men who swear off romance and make an oath to scholarship, only to find themselves distracted by their affections for four ladies. And so begins the universal battle of the head versus the heart. Shakespeare’s charming and comedic gem relates the trials and tribulations of young romance and the obstacles encountered on the path to true love.

For director John Langs, the 1950s offer the perfect time period to set Shakespeare’s classic text. He explains, “This is a play that I felt was very safe, light, and fun. And then in a second it turned. Setting the story in the 1950s and using all of that iconography felt accurate…We were just at the height of something that was playful and just around the corner was something that was much more serious.”

Langs has directed the plays of Shakespeare for 15 years, and has worked with a variety of prestigious companies including the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, the Lookingglass Theater Company in Chicago, Circle X in Los Angeles, Ensemble Studio Theater in New York, The New Century theatre Company, Ensemble Theater of Seattle, and The Seattle Shakespeare Company where he is an Associate Artist.

For more information on Love’s Labour’s Lost, please visit texasperformingarts.org/event/lllost.

The B. Iden Payne Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.) is located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building on the University of Texas campus. For a map of the campus, please visit texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions.

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT:

PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION:
SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 7:00 P.M. IN THE B. IDEN PAYNE THEATRE LOBBY

A special pre-performance discussion, A Set of Wit Well Played will be held on April 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the B. Iden Payne Theatre lobby. Guest speaker Dr. James Loehlin, director of the Shakespeare at Winedale Program, will offer insight on Love’s Labour’s Lost and the production’s rich history. In addition, members of the cast will present select scenes from Love’s Labour’s Lost.

Admission to this special event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.

CALENDAR LISTING:

APRIL 13-22, 2012 – The University of Texas Department of Theatre & Dance presents LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST at the B. Iden Payne Theatre (300 E. 23rd St.), located in the F. Loren Winship Drama Building. A map of the campus: texasperformingarts.org/visit/maps_directions. Performance times are April 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, & 21 at 8:00 p.m. and April 15 & 22 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets ($20 adults, $17 UT faculty & staff, $15 student) are now on sale at the following authorized ticket outlets, which include the Bass Concert Hall Box Office, most H-E-B stores and all Texas Box Office outlets, online at TexasPerformingArts.org, or by calling (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-BEVO.

Media Contact:
Gene Bartholomew; 512.471.0632; gbartholomew@TexasPerformingArts.org
Cassie Gholston; 512.232.5301; gholston@austin.utexas.edu