By William Shakespeare
Directed by Paul Miailovich
Produced by Joseph P. Stachura

July 31 through August 23, 2009
Fridays @ 8:00 PM / Saturdays @ 8:00 PM / Sundays @ 6:00 PM

The Knightsbridge Theatre is about to bring Shakespeare into the modern day--almost. Director Paul Miailovich's gender-bending rendition of As You Like It takes place in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley of the 1980s. Opening this July 31 for a four-week run (in repertory with Snoopy! The Musical), this comedic classic will encourage audiences to sing along to its '80s "soundtrack" and relive a colorful era through the timeless words of The Bard.

It's 1985 and Ronald Reagan has just won re-election by a landslide, finalizing the religious and conservative revival that ends the liberalism of the 1970s. The American New Right is denouncing abortion, pornography, homosexuality, feminism and affirmative action, against a Cold War backdrop. In the Valley, Duke Frederick has staged a hostile takeover of Duke Enterprises, producer of the wildly successful variety talent show, "All the World's a Stage," (featuring the As You Like It Dancers). His elder brother, the former CEO, has fled to the suburban city of Arden Forest (and Galleria) with his entourage, including the cynical punk Jacques and the washed-up new-wave singer Amiens.

Duke Enterprises' "Worldwide Wrestling" show is thrown into disarray when challenger Orlando fails to take the fall against professional wrestling superstar Chuck Hogan. Frederick's iron grip on the company begins to slip as his teen-idol niece, Rosalind; his daughter, Celia; and the host of "All the World's a Stage," Touchstone, all quit the network and escape to Arden Forest and Galleria.

In true Shakespearean style, this production features reverse casting in many roles, but it also offers better representation of the "norms" of modern-day relationships: men loving men, women loving women, and everything in between. Songs within Shakespeare's original script have been replaced by 1980s hits, prompting karaoke-style sing-along opportunities.

Miailovich's 1993 production of As You Like It was named a "Best Bet" by the Los Angeles Times. The Knightsbridge company member was the founder and executive director of Psyche and Eros Productions in Claremont, California (1993-2003). Miailovich's controversial stagings have included a lesbian Antigone, a mash-up of The Bacchae and the New Testament, and a methamphetamine-driven Macbeth featured on Japanese Public Television (NHK). His productions have won numerous awards at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in Australia.

$20 general admission, $18 students/seniors. Please contact us at 323-667-0955 to inquire about group discounts!