RICHARD III, by William Shakespeare

RICHARD III, by William Shakespeare, is the classic tale of the lust for power gone berserk. Quite an appropriate play for election season! The original villain you love to hate or hate to love--you just can't help but let yourself be seduced by him - RICHARD III lets no one stand in the way of his one true love: the crown of England.

But is he really just a singularity, an extraordinarily devious force of evil, or is he the logical result of a corrupted political system? The history is centuries old, the situation startlingly modern: is there nothing in politics but simply the pursuit of power?

Written early in Shakespeare's career, RICHARD III staked Shakespeare's claim as the greatest playwright of his day. The final production of our 55th season (since 1957) opens October 19th and runs Fridays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. till November 17th, with a matinee Sunday November 11th at 2 p.m.  All shows are in the cozy (indoor) 137-seat Live Oak Theatre, located next to the Live Oak Park Recreation Center, within north Berkeley's Live Oak Park, just down the street from the "Gourmet Ghetto"

Directed by Sharon Huff Robinson, a newcomer to Actors Ensemble, but a veteran of Marin Shakespeare Festival, S.F. Shakes, Subterranean Shakespeare, and numerous other theatrical productions across the Bay Area.

With Reuben Alvear, Francois Barrilleaux, Maureen Coyne, Tom Flynn, Paul Jennings, Erik Johnson, Edward Kimak, Alexia Marquis, Mary Jo Price, Casey Roos, Stanley Spenger, Alicia Stamps, Brandice Thompson, Pete Townley and Jeff Trescott.

Set design by the Human Fiction team - Norm De Veyra, Shu Ping Guan, Gustavo Delgado, and Jon Farrel. Costumes by Sophia Thorsen. Light design by Colin Johnson. Stage managed by James Banh, and dramaturgy by Carolyn Day.

WHAT: The play Richard III by William Shakespeare, directed by Sharon Huff Robinson

WHO: Actors Ensemble of Berkeley

WITH: Reuben Alvear, Francois Barrilleaux, Maureen Coyne, Tom Flynn, Paul Jennings, Erik Johnson, Edward Kimak, Alexia Marquis, Mary Jo Price, Casey Roos, Stanley Spenger, Alicia Stamps, Brandice Thompson, Pete Townley and Jeff Trescott

WHERE: Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Avenue (at Berryman) in north Berkeley

WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Oct. 19th through November 17th, 2012. Matinee Sunday November 11th at 2 p.m. Doors/Will Call opens 1/2 hour before curtain. Wheelchair accessible (use the north side entrance).

HOW MUCH: $15 regular, $12 students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online through our website www.aeofberkeley.org, or purchased at the door (cash or check only). Reservations for purchase at the door can be made by phoning 510-649-5999