Twelfth Night/Richard III: recoups on B'way

The all-male Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III, recouped their $3.1 million capitalization costs this week.

The quick recoupment of Twelfth Night and Richard III on Broadway is particularly noteworthy with the productions' ticket access policy, where 250 seats at every performance have been sold for $25. The 250 seats per performance make up almost a quarter of the Belasco's capacity of 1,051, and include seating in all levels of the theatre: orchestra, mezzanine, balcony, boxes and on stage. Approximately 36,000 $25 tickets will have been sold throughout the 18-week limited engagement.

The show's producers said,

"Theatre should be available to all audiences. We're especially heartened that we have been able to sell almost a quarter of every house for $25, providing a way for all theatergoers to see and enjoy these productions, while still managing to recoup our production costs and turn a profit."

Twelfth Night and Richard III, which marks the Broadway debut for London's Shakespeare's Globe, are staged in repertory, with the opportunity to see both productions in one day on most Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The two plays opened on Broadway to estatic reviews: A feast for everyone with the fortune to be in attendance (newoktheatreguide.com); This is how Shakespeare was meant to be done (NYT); Double-decker delight (NYDN); Rapturously entertaining (Record); Double triumph (Newsroom Jersey).

Two-time Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance ('Jerusalem,' 'Boeing-Boeing') stars in repertory as the suddenly love struck noblewoman 'Olivia' in Twelfth Night and as the ruthless and conniving title monarch in Richard III.

The principal cast for Twelfth Night includes Stephen Fry (Malvolio), Samuel Barnett (Viola), Liam Brennan (Orsino), Paul Chahidi (Maria - for which he was nominated for a 2013 Olivier Award), John Paul Connolly (Antonio), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Feste), Colin Hurley (Sir Toby Belch), Jethro Skinner (Fabian), Angus Wright (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) and Terry McGinity (Sea Captain/Priest).

The principal cast for Richard III includes Samuel Barnett (Queen Elizabeth), Liam Brennan (Clarence/Lord Mayor), Paul Chahidi (Hastings/Tyrell), John Paul Connolly (1st Murderer/Cardinal/Ratcliff/Halberdier), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Brakenbury/Catesby), Colin Hurley (King Edward IV/Stanley), Jethro Skinner (2nd Murderer/Messenger/Halberdier), Angus Wright (Duke of Buckingham) and Terry McGinity (Scrivener/Rivers/Blunt).

Twelfth Night is a comedy about gender confusion, in which a girl disguises herself as a man to be near the count she adores, only to be pursued by the woman he loves.

While the lovelorn Duke Orsino plots to win the heart of the mourning 'Olivia,' an alliance of servants and hangers-on scheme against the high handedness of Olivia's steward, the pompous 'Malvolio.' When 'Orsino' engages the cross-dressed 'Viola,' who has disguised herself as a young man under the name 'Cesario,' to plead with Olivia on his behalf, chaos ensues.

In Richard III Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined that he should wear the crown of England. He has already dispatched one king and that king's son; now all that stands in his way are two credulous brothers and two helpless nephews - the Princes in the Tower.

Twelfth Night and Richard III played in repertoire at Shakespeare's Globe from 14 July - 14 October 2012, and later transferred to West End's Apollo Theatre from 2 Nov 2012 - 03 Feb 2013.

Both Shakespeare Globe productions opened in the West End to mostly rave reviews:

Twelfth Night: Tim Carroll's astute and meticulous production really is something very special. (londontheatre.co.uk); Rylance offers pure comic delight (Daily Telegraph).

Richard III: There is no denying the charismatic originality of Rylance's Richard (Daily Telegraph); The chameleon nature of the actor's genius is demonstrated by his equally mould-breaking portrayal of the title role in Richard III (Independent).

The productions offer the first opportunity for Broadway audiences to see Mark Rylance performing Shakespeare, for which he has earned such accolades as "our greatest living actor" (The Independent) and "the most exciting stage actor of his generation" (The Times).

From his early performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company to his 10 years as the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe (1995-2005), UK critics and audiences have celebrated Rylance for his performances in 'Hamlet,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Henry V,' 'The Tempest,' 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' and 'As You Like It,' among others.

London's Shakespeare's Globe was founded by the pioneering American actor and director Sam Wanamaker. and is a reconstructed open-air theatre on the banks of the River Thames dedicated to the exploration of Shakespearean, Elizabethan, Jacobean, and contemporary theatre.