2015

HENRY V
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Adam Miller-Batteau

Themes of war, national identity, leadership, and above all, the power of language to persuade, to change, to evoke are present in Shakespeare’s play about a young king of England who leads his armies to France to reclaim what he feels is his.  Masses of characters played by a small group of actors will “on your imaginary forces work” as history unfolds before your eyes.

Cast: Mouse Courtois, Stebert Davenport, Nicholaj Deep, Sanders Hamson, Cydney Marie, Joseph McDonald, Dory Mead, Jeffrey Miller, and Dennis Verner.

Design team: Liz Getty (costume design), Isaac Ellis (lighting design), and Alexa Ducsay (stage manager).

Performances were Fridays – Sundays, May 1 – 16 with Friday and Saturday performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m at the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Studio Space (322 W. Ann Street).

THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL 

By Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Directed by James Ingagiola
Kerrytown Concert House, August 6-8, 2015

When the rivalry between the Surface brothers for the hand of the fair Maria couldn’t get more intense, in comes their Uncle Oliver to add a new complication: he will visit each of them in disguise to test their true worth. Who will come out on top? The upright (but secretly self-serving) Joseph? Or the devil-may-care (but nobly generous) Charles? And how will the mob of gossips and scandal-makers who hang on every moment influence the decision?

Sparkling wit and hilarious complications ensue as The Brass Tacks Ensemble presents Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s satirical masterpiece about the lengths we go to maintain our reputations, our integrity, and sometimes our sanity, when confronted with rumor, scandal, and hypocrisy.

Cast List:

CHARLES SURFACE/CRABTREE   David Widmayer
JOSEPH SURFACE/MOSES    Isaac Ellis
SNAKE/SIR BENJAMIN BACKBITE  Cydney Marie
LADY OLIVIA SURFACE  Jan Romans
MRS CANDOUR    Rachel Robbins Toon
ROWLEY   Jean Leverich
LADY TEAZLE/SIR TOBY BUMPER  Sara Rose
MARIA/CARELESS   Amanda Photenhauer
LADY SNEERWELL   Nan Bauer
TRIP   Anne S Rhoades
SIR PETER TEAZLE   James Ingagiola

This production replaces the previously proposed production “Pros and Cons.”

EAT ME: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN THE WORKING CLASS

An Original Work based on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Written and Directed by Isaac Ellis

The Children’s Creative Center Theater,  1600 Pauline Blvd., Ann Arbor
November 6-22, 2015

Alice is a no-nonsense Office Manager constantly dealing with employees who test the limits of company policies and refuse to follow the simplest of rules.  At her breaking point, and nearing what she thinks might be the end of her employment, Alice’s desire for order sends her work world into crumbling chaos.  Based on the books by Lewis Carroll, the beloved and whimsical characters come to life in this grown up reimagining of the children’s classics.

Cast: Mary Conley, Erica Dutton, Robby Griswold, Thom “TJ” Johnson, Emma Kennedy, Billy Nuttall, Megan Shiplett, and Elizabeth Wagner.

Crew: Jason Atwood (Lights), Nicholaj Deep (Costumes), Isaac Ellis (Director, Playwright), Lynn Fiorentino (Producer), Michele Leshan (Stage Manager), and Kate Orr (Props/Set).

A note from James Ingagiola, The Brass Tacks Ensemble’s Artistic Director:

After two successful productions–Life Is A Dream and A Midsummer Night’s Dream–in 2014, we’re proud to offer what promises to be a terrific lineup in 2015. The Brass Tacks Ensemble is expanding artistically and professionally, and we hope that audiences will enjoy more of the quality work that the BTE has been offering in the Ann Arbor area for the past several years.

Interested in seeing a show?
Email BTEreservations@gmail.com or call 517-914-9300 to reserve tickets! $15 Adults/$5 Students (with ID)