The Department of Theatre Arts and the African American Theatre Program (AATP) will present “The African Company Presents Richard III” from March 4-8 at Thrust Theatre, 2314 S. Floyd St.
**NOTE: The UofL Theatre Arts Department has canceled the Wednesday, March 4 performance of “The African Company Presents Richard III” due to weather. Additionally, the show will be closed if UofL is closed. Patrons who have already purchased a ticket for the March 4 performance may bring their ticket to any other performance during the show’s run and it will be honored. The show is scheduled to run through March 8. For questions, contact Theatre Arts at 852-7682 or visit louisville.edu/theatrearts.**
Set 40 years before the Civil War, the play tells the true story of a troupe of black actors in early 1800s New York. When The African Company tries to mount a production of the Shakespeare classic Richard III, a white producer attempts to shut it down to mount his own production with an English star.
PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uofl/sets/72157651151067162/
Directed by associate professor Baron Kelly, director of the AATP, the show features theater students Tyler Madden as William Henry Brown and James Stringer Jr. as James Hewlett, the actor starring as Richard III for The African Company.
“The travails of The African Company to showcase the talent of black actors in the face of adversity are filled with the kind of drama that can only come from an actual event,” Kelly said. “This production brings the story back to life and illustrates a pivotal moment in the history of theater.”
Performances are 8 p.m., March 4-8 with a 3 p.m. matinee, March 8. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $12 for students. To order tickets or for more information, call the box office at 502-852-6814 or visit www.louisville.edu/theatrearts.