For Immediate Release: April 10, 2006
Media Contact: Jared Reed, Curio Theatre Company, 215.525.1350

What: Curio Theatre Company presents The King Stag by Carlo Gozzi, directed by Jared Reed

Where: Calvary Church, 48th and Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia

When: May 11th - May 27th Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 4pm and 8pm

The King Stag - Curio Theatre Company presents The King Stag by Carlo Gozzi this May in Philadelphia. This family adventure merges the slapstick and open theatricality of classic Italian Commedia dell'arte with stunning illusionistic design to create a magical world of spells and transformations. Curio's imaginative storytelling makes this a fun and unique experience for all ages.

Performances run from May 11th - 27th at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community at 48th and Baltimore Avenue; Thursday at 7pm, Friday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday at 4pm. Tickets for Thursday evenings are $15 for all adults and students, $10 for children under 12. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $22 regular, $19 for students and seniors, $10 for children under 12.

Meet Prince Deramo of S..., who is trying to find an honest woman to marry. With the aid of a magical truth-telling statue - a gift from the wizard Durandarte - the prince finds the princess of his dreams. But, alas, his wicked Prime Minister, Tartaglia, has treason, treachery, magical curses and other terrible plans in mind. This is a tale of love and betrayal, of the conquest of the heart and mind over the body, and of course, it has a happy ending!

Curio Theatre's production is an exciting exploration of the Italian Commedia style, popular between the 14th and 18th centuries throughout Europe. Commedia dell'arte ("Comedy of Art") means unwritten or improvised drama, though in practice the improvisation is framed within a clear plot. In creating a piece, the subject is chosen, the characters conceived and named, their relations to one another determined, and the plot clearly outlined and divided into scenes. The script itself is left open for the actors to heighten, vary, and embellish within the plot markers. The improvisation is therefore rehearsed as the company prepares for a performance, but the script itself is not written down for the actors to learn; they create it themselves through their characters and the exploratory rehearsal process.

Many recorded Commedia scenarios have been formerly reproduced as precise scripts from which theatre companies today can work. Curio Theatre has instead taken the bare bones of a Gozzi plot, The King Stag, and has devised a fresh performance on the basis of Commedia improvisation.

This is an astonishing and hilarious show that's perfect for all the family this spring!

Visit the website at www.curiotheatre.org, email boxoffice@curiotheatre.org, or call 215-525-1350 for tickets or more information.

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