The Wonder, by Susanna Centlivre at the Kirk Theater

The Queen's Company present a revival of Susanna Centlivre's comedy The Wonder, opening at Theater Row's Kirk Theatre on 27 Feb 2010, following previews from 26 Feb and running through to 14 Mar 2010.

The Wonder: Can you keep a secret? On the run from an arranged marriage, Isabella puts her life and happiness into the hands of her friend Violante. How far will Violante go to keep Isabella's secret?

Helmed by The Queen's Company Artistic Director, Rebecca Patterson, The Wonder features Virginia Baeta, Maryam Benganga, Julia Campanelli, Amy Driesler, Abbi Hawk, Natalie Lebert, Annie Paul, Jacquelyn Poplar and Valerie Redd.

The creative team consists of Kip Marsh (Set Design), Miriam Crowe (Lighting Design), Jeanette Aultz Look (Costume Design) and Jane Shaw (Sound Design).

Rebecca Patterson is the Artistic Director of The Queen's Company - NYC's all-female classical theater company. Past Queen's Company productions include 'Twelfth Night,' 'The Taming of the Shrew,' 'Edward II,' 'School For Scandal,' 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'The Lucky Chance,' 'Antony & Cleopatra,' 'The Feign'd Courtesans,' 'The Duchess of Malfi,' 'The Rover and Macbeth.' Patterson's other NYC directing credits include 'Wapato' (Women's Project), 'Greeks & Centaurs' (Women's Project), 'The Gabriels' (SPF) and 'The Imaginary Invalid' (Resonance Ensemble).

Rebecca Patterson states, "There are many compelling reasons for all-female casts in classical plays, the most obvious being the wealth of untapped talent and interpretations of our female actors. When we start talking about the humanity of a character with their own particular mix of male and female characteristics, that's when things become exciting. There are many examples of classical productions with predominantly male casts. Our aesthetic is neither better nor worse. It is simply different. It allows for a diversity of voices, insights and access, enriching our understanding and enjoyment of classical plays."