Two Dallas theater companies stage rarely-staged Shakespearean plays this week

by Shawn Parikh

If you are a Shakespeare nut, this is definitely your week. Two of his rarely-performed works are taking stage in different forms this week. A brand new adaptation of the bloody and violent Titus Andronicus is getting a full production by Kitchen Dog Theater and SMU, while Shakespeare Dallas is offering a staged reading of the romantic Cymbeline.

Titus Andronicus is deemed as the Bard's bloodiest play and audiences will surely know it with this Kitchen Dog and SMU co-production. The new version adapted by Lee Trull and Leah Spillman is transposed to an ancient Mayan setting. The themes of revenge, justice and violence begetting violence remain shocking and relevant. Directed by KDT Co-Artistic Director Christopher Carlos the cast includes Joe Nemmers, Christina Vela, Jamal Gibran Sterling, John M. Flores, Rhonda Boutte, Thiago Martins, Brigham Mosley, Rukhmani Desai, Micah Figueroa, Andres Ortiz, Robert Patrick Paterno, David Gorena, Isabel Flores and Dante Flores. The production will run from April 17 - May 16 and tickets can be purchased online or by calling 214-953-1055.

Shakespeare Dallas is offering Cymbeline as part of their annual reading series to give patrons a chance to familiarize themselves with his lesser-known works. Directed by Jocelyn Wiebe, this rarely produced gem of Shakespeare's later work features some of his most beautiful verse and perhaps his purest romantic heroine. For 2 performances only, the reading will be staged on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at 8:00 p.m. at the Bath House Cultural Center for a very low price.