CLASSIC CONVERSATIONS WITH MICHAEL KAHN HOSTS JAMES EARL JONES

Washington, D.C. —The Shakespeare Theatre Company is pleased to announce that Academy Honorary Award® winner James Earl Jones will join Artistic Director Michael Kahn for the third installment of the Classic Conversations series to be held at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW) on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 8 p.m. Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn is a series of discussions with classically-trained actors presented as part of the 25th Anniversary Season.

Audiences are invited to join Kahn for an evening of in-depth discussions on classical theatre and the craft of acting. Kahn, known not only for his rigorous and ingenious presentation of classical works but also for his signature charm and wit, welcomes James Earl Jones to STC for a chance to analyze and discuss the importance of classical theatre in today’s society. This one night only event will provide patrons with a look into some of the great minds of classical theatre.

Classic Conversations with Michael Kahn has provided the audience an exclusive experience with STC’s Artistic Director. Kahn’s previous guests in the series include Kevin Kline and Patrick Stewart; both guests have captivated the audience through their stories, covering all aspects of their careers. “The Shakespeare Theatre Company is honored to host such esteemed actors and to hear their thoughts on classical theatre. It is a tremendous opportunity for our patrons and I have a great time as well,” says Kahn.

Tickets for this event start at $35. To reserve tickets or for more information, please call the box office at 202.547.1122, or go online to ShakespeareTheatre.org.

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS

Michael Kahn recently directed The Heir Apparent, kicking off his 25th year as STC’s Artistic Director. Kahn has directed a wide variety of Shakespearean and classical works for STC, including Old Times, All’s Well That Ends Well, The Liar, Richard II, The Alchemist, Design for Living and The Way of the World. Having brought works of international significance like The Great Game: Afghanistan and Black Watch to the theatre last season, Kahn continues to demonstrate the versatility and relevance of STC’s theatre programming with this season’s productions. In 1991, he created the Free For All, which brings an STC production to audiences completely free of charge every year. The Free For All has reached more than 600,000 people to date. In addition to leading STC, he is also the founder of the Academy for Classical Acting at The George Washington University and the former Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division at Juilliard. Since the 1960s, Kahn’s work has been seen by audiences across the country and the world: in New York City, both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, as well as at both the American Shakespeare Theatre and the McCarter Theatre where he served as Artistic Director concurrently. In 2003, STC performed his production of The Oedipus Plays at the Athens Festival in Greece, where it received standing ovations and critical acclaim. In the summer of 2006, the Company took Kahn’s production of Love’s Labor’s Lost to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Complete Works Festival” in Stratford-upon-Avon.

James Earl Jones may be best known for his distinct voice. He was the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, and he can be heard on countless Verizon commercials and on CNN. His stage credits include performances in Henry V, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, The Great White Hope, Fences, The Blood Knot, Boseman and Lena, Master Harold…and the Boys, On Golden Pond, Thurgood, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Driving Miss Daisy and many others. His film credits include performances in Dr. Strangelove, The Man, Claudine, The River Niger, The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings, Matewan, Field of Dreams, The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger, Cry, The Beloved Country and numerous others. His awards include two Tonys, four Emmys, a Golden Globe, two Cable ACEs, two OBIEs, five Drama Desks and a Grammy. He was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 1992, the John F. Kennedy Center Honor in 2002 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.