Shakespeare Guild’s Inaugural Performance Promises to Break New Ground

JOSHUA TREE, CA – Following the artistic success with sold-out audiences of the acclaimed production run of The Dining Room, the Hi-Desert Cultural Center, with an almost fifty-year tradition of staging the Desert’s best in live theatre, has collaborated with the area’s new Shakespeare Guild and will open the highly anticipated production of Julius Caesar this Thursday. Under the direction of the Shakespeare Guild’s Artistic Director and Founder, Eric Quander (aka Q), this Shakespearean classic – with interpretive twists – will open with four performances beginning this Thursday at the Center’s state-of-the-art Blak Box Theater.

This production of Julius Caesar cleverly pushes the creative envelope in its interpretation of the classic political thriller. Set in an alternate universe where the skies glow purple and the lore of a zombie apocalypse have become a part of everyday culture, audiences are transported by movement, sound, and effective lighting to a world where “graves have yawned and yielded up their dead”. The production makes unexpected interpretations of the script that are insightful, thought-provoking, and eye-opening. Consisting of some of Shakespeare’s most memorable speeches and quotes, the production features the artistic and theatrical talents of Gwyneth Arnold-Starr – Portia/Octavus, Damien Cole – Servant, Janis Commentz – Messala/Artemidorus, Aaron Fagan – Mark Antony, Eben Hiner – Flavius, Sam Jacobson – Lucius, Molly Katelbach (Brents) – Calpurnia/Metellus Cimber, Annelies Kuiper – Julius Caesar, Shawn Manifest – Cassius, Kim Mayhew – Soothsayer, Paul Potthoff – Casca, Eric Quander – Marcus Brutus, Rob Reese – Caius Ligarius, and Sue Poston – Dancer.

The themes of love, friendship, betrayal and justice are accessible to any audience member whatever their familiarity with Shakespeare’s brilliance. The Shakespeare Guild is poised to add a definitive voice to the international theater community, and is proud to call this region home. Appropriate for ages 14+, Julius Caesar opens on Thursday March 14th, 2013 and runs through Sunday March 17th. A special Ides of March Gala is scheduled for Friday, March 15, and includes an Italian-themed light buffet, no-host bar, and discussion about the play. All performances are at 7:00 pm except Sunday’s matinee, which is at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices range from $20 to $25 and are available online at www.hidesertculturalcenter.com or by calling the box office at 760.366.3777.

ROBERT THIES pianist & BOGLARKA KISS flutist Mar 23, 2013 Robert Thies is a Gold Medal Winner of the International Prokofiev Competition, Russia and is the only American pianist in four decades to win a Russian piano competition since Van Cliburn’s famed triumph in Moscow in 1958! Thies works with many of the top studio musicians and film composers such as James Newton Howard, James Horner, Danny Elfman, Aaron Zigman and Lalo Schifrin. Boglarka Kiss is a Hungarian flutist and is a featured musician in several California orchestras, including the Pasadena Symphony. She premiered Grammy-winner Billy Child’s Sonata for Flute and Piano with Thies in 2002.

JOSHUA TREE PHILHARMONIC’s “History Of The World” May 16-19, 2013 The amazing Joshua Tree Philharmonic (JPHIL) returns to delight audiences with “History of the World” – an eclectic and artistic blend of musical selections including “Jurassic Park”, “2001:A Space Odyssey”, “Titanic”, “Robin Hood:Prince Of Thieves”, “Braveheart”, “Fanfare For The Common Man”, “Some Nights” & more! Under the direction of Maestro Jarrod Radnich, the JPHIL will take audiences on a sonic journey through timeless masterpieces that the whole family will be sure to enjoy! Must be at least five years of age to attend.