The Secret Theatre announces an exciting immersive production of William Shakespeare’s KING LEAR, directed by Richard Mazda and Barbara McGlamery. Zev Burrows is composing an original score and underscore for the production. Performances begin Friday, November 5, and continue through Saturday, November 21, at The Secret Theatre’s new space at 10-10 44th Avenue, Long Island City, Queens. Tickets are $35 and will be available on the website www.secrettheatre.com. \u200b
Shakespeare’s tragedy unfolds in a production that transports us to Iron Age Britain and the tragic tale of \u200b KING LEAR, his daughters, and the downfall of his entire realm. \u200b Moving with the action through multiple playing spaces, audiences become witnesses to what happens when the man at the center of the system abruptly tears apart the world around them.
“At its heart, King Lear is a family tragedy. Lear loses everything. But it is also the story of the forces that make that tragedy possible—the story of a system destroying itself,” says co-director Barbara McGlamery. “The immersive form allows the audience to experience that collapse in an intimate setting”
The production makes full use of The Secret Theatre’s expansive new Long Island City space; the company creates a series of environments through which actors and audience travel together.
The production stars Richard Mazda as Lear, with Brian Smiga*, Alyssa Simon, Lia Bonfilio*, Emily Glaser, Joe Schwalb*, Fraser Dickson, Matt Tiemstra*, Jeffrey Roth*, Pat Shay*, Gil Torres*, Davis Wood, Joshua Mutterperl and Chuck Sams, with an ensemble company completing Shakespeare’s fractured kingdom. (*Performing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association)
Costume Design by Sarah Hudkins and assistant Vanta, and lighting and sound design by Juan Morocho & Rafael Guzman. Make up design by Veridiana Montas, Alyssa Van Gorder produces the production with associate producer Camila Wilson.
Website: https://www.secrettheatre.com/shows-events/king-lear
BIOGRAPHIES
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Playwright) was an English playwright, poet, and actor of the Renaissance era. He was an important member of the King’s Men theatrical company from roughly 1594 onward. Known worldwide, Shakespeare’s works—at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems—capture the range of human emotion and conflict and have been celebrated for more than 400 years. \u200b
RICHARD MAZDA (co-Director) is a versatile artist who excels as an actor, director, teacher, musician, playwright, and award-winning songwriter. As a true polymath, he has made a significant impact as a record producer, collaborating with renowned artists including Nick Cave, The Fall, The JBs and the Average White Band, among others. An ASCAP award-winning songwriter, he has penned over 20 plays and appeared in acclaimed films such as Love Actually, Saving Private Ryan, and Batman Begins.
\u200b
\u200bMazda founded the Secret Theatre and later established the Secret Academy, culminating in the creation of the state-of-the-art facility known as Secret Arts. This venue houses Vital Art Studios, The Secret Theatre, and the Secret Academy, fostering creativity in the arts. He also serves as the founder and Director of the LIC Arts Open, a vibrant arts festival in Queens that is now proudly celebrating its 15th year.
Deeply passionate about portraying complex characters, Mazda has taken on iconic villainous roles, including Richard III, Shylock, Fagin, Prospero, Judge Wargrave, and Scrooge. Audiences can soon anticipate his compelling portrayal of a tyrannical Lear, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.
BARBARA MCGLAMERY (co-Director) is a director, performer, drama therapist, and Co-Artistic Director of The Secret Theatre. She comes to Long Island City from the distant shores of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. An NYU-trained drama therapist and longtime theatre-maker, her work lives at the intersection of performance, psychology, and the unruly business of being human. She is the founder of the workshops, Restorative Performance and Embodied StoryLab, and is currently co-directing King Lear. Her work asks what theatre can reveal about the present moment—and how that act of seeing can make change possible.
THE SECRET THEATRE is dedicated to creating, presenting, and nurturing exceptional live performance that inspires imagination, challenges perspectives, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. As both a producing company and a cultural venue, we provide a home for artists and audiences to connect through bold storytelling, artistic excellence, and meaningful creative exchange.
Through our own productions, we strive to develop innovative, accessible, and engaging theatre that entertains, provokes thought, and fosters community. As a venue, we are committed to supporting emerging and established artists by offering an inclusive and collaborative space where creativity can flourish, new voices can be heard, and artistic risks can be taken.
At the heart of Secret Theatre is a belief in the transformative power of the performing arts to enrich lives, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for dialogue, discovery, and connection.
# # #
", "mainvisual": { "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b28ba583-ae6e-4f9a-a1df-b36d3fb0cb41/-/scale_crop/250x250/center/-/format/auto/", "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b28ba583-ae6e-4f9a-a1df-b36d3fb0cb41/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/", "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b28ba583-ae6e-4f9a-a1df-b36d3fb0cb41/" }, "header": { "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b28ba583-ae6e-4f9a-a1df-b36d3fb0cb41/-/format/auto/", "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/b28ba583-ae6e-4f9a-a1df-b36d3fb0cb41/-/format/auto/" }, "tags": [ "Theater" ], "author": { "first_name": "Katie", "last_name": "Rosin" }, "format_version": 6 }