2011: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

“An entertaining production which can be enjoyed as a Shakespearean tour-de-force, an intellectual exercise, and an existential tragicomedy — all at the same time. The entire cast does a first rate job, but I was particularly taken with Aguirre, Gray and Weber in the principal roles. I think that Stoppard would be pleased.” – Alan J. Miller, Theater is Easy

A sold-out run of an intimate rendering of Tom Stoppard’s hauntingly hilarious classic – June 3-12, 2011 at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, NYC.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Hamlet’s hapless college pals, recruited by the king to kill their depressed friend, even though Hamlet is always a step ahead. Tom Stoppard brings their plight to center stage, following the pair as they are thrown again into their strange and eternally brief roles.

Set amidst the illusionist craze of the Victorian era, Big Rodent’s production of this classic show brought these two hopeless dreamers straight into our lives, where their struggle to understand parallels our oversaturated, overstressed society’s constant battle for a glimpse of meaning.

Presented in an intimate 60-seat black box, this production was a unique chance to see Stoppard’s work so up close and personal, adding an extra layer of intricacy with the Players double cast as the characters from Hamlet.

Directed by Cora Weissbourd

Featuring Adam Aguirre, Jordan Gray, Ian Heitzman, Nick Monroy, Leigh Poulos, David Sanchez, Kym Smith, Katie Rose Spence, and Jeremy Weber.

Cait Keane – Stage Manager
Andrew Lu – Lights
Jessa-Raye Court – Costumes
Chrissy Farrell – Sound

Produced by Joe Gallagher & Big Rodent