Press Release

NAVAL ACADEMY MASQUERADERS TO PERFORM SHAKESPEARE’S “TITUS ANDRONICUS”

NOTE TO EDITORS AND REPORTERS: Please contact the Public Affairs Office at 410-293-2292 for an interview or photo.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Naval Academy’s midshipmen drama group, The Masqueraders, will perform William Shakespeare’s first and bloodiest tragedy, “Titus Andronicus” which features a battle-hardened veteran returning home to a turbulent political environment. Due to the play's violent themes, it is not recommended to children under thirteen.

“Titus Andronicus” will be performed Oct. 26 and 27 and Nov. 2-4 in Mahan Hall at the academy. Friday and Saturday performances (Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3) begin at 8 p.m. The Sunday, Nov. 4 matinee begins at 2 p.m. All performances are open to the public. Tickets are $10 per person or $8 per person for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (410) 293-TIXS (8497), online or at the door.

Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” is the Bard's first and bloodiest tragedy. In it, we see the rough sketches of many of Shakespeare's famous characters: Macbeth and Lady M., King Lear, mad Hamlet, Othello, and Iago. This presentation uses the critical lenses of Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty and Karl Marlantes’s writings on combat in order to explore the tragedy of Titus, an honored general who returns to a politically tumultuous homeland after having served Rome during a decade of multiple, contiguous deployments.

Each fall the Masqueraders produce one main-stage show which is selected to support the curriculum of the academy’s English department. Past performances have included “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Macbeth” and “Green Grow the Lilacs.” They also performed “Green Grown the Lilacs” at the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian in November 2010.

The Naval Academy recommends that visitors attending the performances walk through Gate 3 (Maryland Ave.). Visitors may also walk through Gate 1 (King George St.). All visitors 16 years-of-age and older are required to show valid, government-issued picture ID. Vehicles without Department of Defense decals are not permitted on the Naval Academy grounds. Handicapped visitors with proper decals are permitted through Gate 1 after a vehicle inspection. All bags are subject to search.

A free Naval Academy shuttle will also be available for each performance except for Nov. 3. Visitors may park at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, at a cost of $5, at the Blue (West) Side off Taylor Ave. The shuttle will transport visitors to Alumni Hall on the academy grounds at no cost and will run from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Oct. 26, 27 and Nov. 2 and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 4.

For more information about the Naval Academy, visit www.usna.edu or our Facebook page.

USNA