Margaret of Anjou

"Undiscovered" feminist Shakespeare play to premiere in Berkeley. THOSE WOMEN PRODUCTIONS presents MARGARET OF ANJOU, by Lauren Jansen-Parkes and William Shakespeare; directed by Libby Vega. It's a high-stakes drama of betrayal, intrigue and medieval power politics – eerily relevant to the present moment in American politics. MARGARET OF ANJOU runs August 25- September 11, 2016 at Live Oak Theater in Berkeley’s “gourmet ghetto” neighborhood. Those Women Productions practices Radical Hospitality: Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay. Suggested price: $25. No minimum. Sunday performances are at 4 pm, all other performances are at 8 pm. The complete schedule is below. For this, their fourth show, Those Women Productions joins forces with British playwright Lauren Jansen-Parkes and their favorite Dead White Guy, William Shakespeare, to tell the hidden story of Queen Margaret who ruled England during the Wars of the Roses and was Commander-in-Chief for the House of Lancaster (inspiration for the “Lannisters” in George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones). Combining original material with text adapted from Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays and Richard III, Jansen-Parkes has wrought a new Shakespearean history play that brings Margaret to the center of the stage. Director Libby Vega is setting the production in the 1940s; during this period women were entering male-dominated fields in unprecedented numbers—and encountering unprecedented push-back. As Margaret's story concludes, the time shifts to the 1950s. A new regime takes power. It promises peace, prosperity, and a return to "family values." But in the wings is a smiling villain, waiting for his chance... Margaret of Anjou is directed by Libby Vega. It features Maria Grazia Affinito* as Margaret, Bobby August Jr*, Ed Berkeley, Lily Tung Crystal*, Sharon Huff*, Norman Patrick Johnson, Melissa Locsin*, Eric Newman*, Karl Schackne, and Nic Sommerfeld. The production team includes Bert van Aalsburg*, Arashi Cesana, Jane Davis, Blair Fullerton, Eli Goodfriend, Carol Lashof, Megan Messinger, Genevieve Perdue, Samuel Raskin, Audrey Ronningen, Sydney Schwindt, and Suzanne Vito. *Member, Actors’ Equity Association. Margaret of Anjou is an Equity-approved project. Tickets: http://margaretofanjou.brownpapertickets.com/ Suggested price: $25.00. No minimum. Tickets are available at all price levels online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door beginning one hour before performances. Where & When: MARGARET OF ANJOU plays August 25 - September 11 at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA. Performance Schedule Thursday, August 25: 8 pm (Preview) Friday, August 26: 8 pm (Opening/ Press Night) Saturday, August 27: 8 pm Friday, September 2: 8 pm Saturday, September 3: 8 pm Sunday, September 4: 4 pm (Talk-back with the artists after the show) Friday, September 9: 8 pm Saturday, September 10: 8 pm (Talk-back with the playwright after the show) Sunday, September 11: 4 pm (Closing)