Brick Theater’s Shakespeare in the Theater Festival presents a C.A.G.E. Theater & Step1 Theatre Project production of

TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA: A SWASHBUCKLING COMEDY!

C.A.G.E. Theater & Step1 Theatre Project bring you the Bard’s romantic comedy with an adventurous twist: pirates, swordplay, all forms of physical comedy, amid the Shakespearean prose courtesy of director Ariel Leigh and stage combat master, Michael Hagins.

In this adventure, Valentine is sent off to find his fortune in a new land, followed closely by his best friend, and he in turn followed by his love-struck girlfriend. Love conquers all … sure … but first we battle!

Production directed by Ariel Leigh with Fight Choreography by Michael Hagins. Nathan Edwin Keep, Stage Manager and Marcos, Assistant Stage Manager. Production features Beth Devlin, Erin Patrick Miller, Isaac Allen Miller, Noah Parks, Daniel Pascale, Annika Gullahorn, Dylan J. Sampson, Vanessa Schanen, Vanessa Wendt, and Michael Whitten.

Performances are Sat Aug 5 @ 4pm; Sun Aug 6 @ 7pm; Fri Aug 11 @ 9:30pm at The Brick, 579 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY. Tickets $20.00: web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/975392.

We spoke with Michael Hagins, Co-director, fight direction, dramaturg and producer of Two Gentlemen of Verona: A Seashbuckling Comedy!

What inspires you as an artist/entrepreneur … and how does it correlate to your decision making when choosing venues, festivals, performance runs, etc. 

I love creating theatre that is both fun and insightful.  I want audiences to appreciate the hard work that is being put on in front of them, and likewise give a nurturing environment for the creative team involved.  As a producer I look for festivals that are fair when it comes to the box office share, and works with the production rather than sit back and let the production make them money without working.

How does independent theater play into realizing ultimate goals?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and there’s no better place than Indie Theatre.  Someday it’d be nice to collect for plays or have the pick of projects, but in the end it’s all about putting on passionate work.