Savage Rose Announces Fifth Season Line-up: “The Season of Storms”

J. Barrett Cooper & Jenni Cochran in Savage Rose's
recent production of Macbeth. Photo by Harlan Taylor.

By Keith Waits

Entire contents copyright © 2013, Keith Waits, all rights reserved.

At a public event January 6 at The Bard’s Town Theatre, Savage Rose Classical Theatre Company announced the line-up for its fifth season. Even though there are slightly fewer productions than in past years, a focus on the works of William Shakespeare and a simple, elemental theme promise to make it a memorable season.

Entitled “The Season of Storms” for the recurring motif of foul weather events that appear in the three Shakespeare plays, the season will open in November with Savage Rose’s inclusion in the 2nd Annual SLANT Culture Theatre Festival at Walden Theatre, where Anton Chekhov’s The Marriage Proposal will be directed by Tony Prince.

As for the Shakespeare, in December Charlie Sexton will helm Twelfth Night, followed by King Lear in March directed by company founder J. Barrett Cooper, and The Tempest in June directed by company member Kelly Moore. Although she has acted in several productions and plays a key administrative role in Savage Rose, this will be Ms. Moore’s first time directing a main stage production for the company.

King Lear will also provide an opportunity to recognize veteran actor Monte Priddy with a lead role. After a lifetime playing numerous roles in nearly every one of Shakespeare’s plays, mostly for Kentucky Shakespeare but for the past two seasons with Savage Rose, the formidable title role in one of the Bard’s greatest plays should be a treat for Mr. Priddy’s many fans.

Exact dates and venues for each show will be announced at a later time. Founded in 2009, the Savage Rose Classical Theatre Company has gained a reputation for quality that has positioned it as THE home of the classics in Louisville. The mission statement spells it out:

“This company wishes to bring to the city of Louisville, and the region, vibrant classical theatre by showing its relevancy to the modern audience. Savage Rose Classical Theatre Company will strive to bring the words of playwrights to the forefront in clear yet provocative and dynamic productions with which we hope to enlighten and entertain.

With the plays of Shakespeare and the Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights as the backbone of its repertoire, this company will explore classical works ranging from the Greeks, the French Neo-Classicist, the English Restoration, 19th Century Melodrama, Grand Guignol, up to and including our Modern Classics.”