Baltimore, Md. (Feb. 19, 2020) – Chesapeake Shakespeare Company continues its 2019-2020 Season with the interactive parody of Shakespeare’s works, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), directed by CSC Founding Artistic Director Ian Gallanar. Complete Works runs Mar. 6-29, with previews Mar. 4-5, and press night Mar. 6.

Complete Works, by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, is a fast-paced, crowd-pleasing comedy with three actors creatively reenacting and merging 37 Shakespeare plays in 97 minutes. Highlights include Titus Andronicus as a cooking show, Othello through a rap song, and the record for shortest production of Hamlet at 43 seconds. First staged in 1987 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and holding the record for longest-running London play (for nine years), Complete Works has a reputation for entertaining both Shakespeare lovers and haters with its inclusion of pop culture, audience participation and inventive interpretation of the Bard’s works.

“Complete Works is a way for us to bite the hand that feeds us,” says Ian Gallanar, Director and CSC Founding Artistic Director. “It is a chance for us to not take ourselves too seriously. It is a funny show and we have funny actors performing it.”

Complete Works features three actors who perform as themselves, often improvising to incorporate pop culture and local references. The three actors performing CSC’s production are CSC Resident Acting Company Members Gregory Burgess and Elliott Kashner, and Helen Hayes Award Winner Matthew R. Wilson.

The Complete Works of Williams Shakespeare (Abridged) opens Friday, Mar. 6, with previews Mar. 4 and 5, and closes Sunday, Mar. 29. For more information, visit www.chesapeareshakespeare.com or call the box office at 410-244-8570. Press night is Friday, Mar. 6. Tickets are $19-$53.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
By Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield
Directed by Ian Gallanar

CAST LIST (in alphabetical order)

Gregory Burgess* – Self
Elliott Kashner* – Self
Matthew R. Wilson – Self

* Chesapeake Shakespeare Company Resident Actor

 

WHERE

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is located at 7 South Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The theatre is located two blocks north of the Inner Harbor. Parking is available for the discounted rate of $5 at the Arrow Parking covered lot on 204 East Lombard Street. The theatre is also accessible using the FREE Charm City Circulator and is located on the Purple Route. For more detailed information about directions, parking, and public transportation, click here .

DATES AND TIMES

Wednesday, Mar. 4, at 8 p.m . PREVIEW
Thursday, Mar. 5, at 8 p.m . PREVIEW
Friday, Mar. 6, at 8 p.m . OPENING NIGHT
Saturday, Mar. 7, at 8 p.m .
Sunday, Mar. 8, at 2 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 13, at 8 p.m .
Saturday, Mar. 14, at 8 p.m .
Sunday, Mar. 15, at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 19, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 20, at 8 p.m .
Saturday, Mar. 22, at 8 p.m .
Sunday, Mar. 22, at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 26, at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 27, at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 28, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 28, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 29, at 2 p.m.

TICKETS

Tickets can be purchased by ordering online at ChesapeakeShakespeare.com, calling 410-244-8570, or visiting the Box Office in person. Tickets range from $19 to $53, with discounts are available for groups of ten or more, active duty military, seniors, and anyone age 25 or younger. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

DIRECTOR AND ACTOR BIOS

Ian Gallanar (Founding Artistic Director and creator of CSC’s A Christmas Carol original adaptation) In addition to founding the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in 2002, Ian has worked as a professional actor, director, and writer for more than 150 professional productions. He has directed 40 productions for CSC. Previously, Ian has served as Artistic Director for the National Theatre for Children, Minnesota Shakespeare in the Park, and the Repertory Theater of America. Ian is a proud member of the distinguished National Theatre Conference and the Dramatists Guild of America; a Helen Hayes Tribute Award, Telly Award, and Howie Award (Howard County Arts Council) winner. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he is a Member of the College of Fine Arts Advancement Council. He is President of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association, an organization for professional Shakespeare companies around the globe.

Gregory Burgess, a member of CSC’s Resident Acting Company, has performed in CSC’s productions of Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2 ; The Winter’s Tale ; The Fantasticks; Richard III (2017 and 2012); Anne of the Thousand Days ; Wild Oats ; A Christmas Carol (2014-2018 ); Titus Andronicus (2015 ); The Importance of Being Earnest; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2014 and 2010 ); As You Like It; The Merry Wives of Windsor ; The Taming of the Shrew (2017 and 2013); and The Merchant of Venice , among many others. His training includes The Martin Blank Studio, the Shakespeare Theater, and Howard University.

Elliott Kashner is a member of CSC’s Resident Acting Company, and previously appeared in She Stoops to Conquer , A Christmas Carol , Othello , Romeo and Juliet, and Wild Oats . Regional credits include Book of Joseph (Everyman Theatre) . Other local credits include Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook (Adventure Theatre); The Burn (The Hub Theatre; Helen Hayes Nomination: Outstanding Supporting Actor); Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe (Molotov Theatre Group); Doubt: A Parable (Quotidian Theatre Company); and The Misanthrope and The Bacchae (WSC Avant Bard). Elliott is Institutional Giving Manager at Everyman Theatre and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics. www.elliottkashner.com

Matthew R. Wilson returns to CSC having previously directed Much Ado about Nothing (2015). He is a two-time Helen Hayes Award winner and seven-time nominee as an actor, director, playwright, and fight director. Acting credits include Swimming with Whales (1st Stage; HHA Outstanding Lead Actor ); Second Shepherds’ Play , Comedy of Errors , and Henry IV, Part 1 (Folger Theatre); Comedy of Errors and Scapin! (Baltimore Shakespeare Festival); Shear Madness (Kennedy Center); Hairspray and Pirates of Penzance (Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre). TV credits include House of Cards and As the World Turns. Matt teaches at The George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. He holds an MFA from ACA, and a PhD from UMD. MatthewRWilson.com