The first of two Shakespeare plays this season is Julius Caesar. The modern relevance of this masterpiece that portrays an empire torn by political intrigue and conspiratorial ambition is abundant. In a conflict between liberty and tyranny, Caesar\'s friend Brutus must weigh his personal beliefs against the love of a comrade, and Marc Anthony is forced to ask his \"friends, Romans, countrymen,\" whether the murder of a king can ever be justified. Julius Caesar plays in rotating repertory October 21 - December 17.
Next is Tennessee William\'s shocking tale of scandal and betrayal, Sweet Bird of Youth. A young man\'s scheme of using people leaves him deserted by love and his youth. Chance Wayne is a drifter whose failings as an actor lead him into a career as a gigolo, returning home to try to rekindle an old flame. What Chance doesn\'t know is that unwittingly he has infected the girl and her father lays in wait for Chance\'s return and for his revenge. Sweet Bird of Youth plays in rotating repertory November 18 - January 28.
Beginning the New Year is Electraby Sophocles. \"Leave it to a playwright who has been dead for 2,400 years to jolt Broadway (with) soul satisfying drama at its most passionately, intensely alive.\" N.Y. Times. Driven by an insatiable desire to avenge her father\'s death at the hands of her mother, Electra seeks and gains revenge, and thus turns her triumph of justice into a tragic repetition of her mother\'s crime. Electra plays in rotating repertory January 6 - March 23.
Sly Fox by Larry Gelbart tells the story of Foxwell J. Sly and his assistant who set about to devise ways to rob from the rich to give to themselves. Turn-of-the-century San Francisco never looked quite as silly as when swindlers use greed to convince a trio of fools to go to great lengths to become what they each believe to be Sly\'s sole heir. This hilariously farcical adaptation comes from the pen of the comic genius who brought us the hit television series M*A*S*H. Sly Fox plays in rotating repertory February 3 - March 30.
The second play by William Shakespeare is Antony and Cleopatra. Marc Antony, the handsome, brave Roman general becomes captivated with Cleopatra, the beautiful and proud Queen of Egypt, and together they ignore his responsibilities to Rome, defying the power of the Senate and entering into a tragic war that is waged against the two lovers. One of Shakespeare\'s most poetic plays; this historical love story is both evocative and passionate. Antony and Cleopatra plays in rotating repertory March 3 - May 4.
The Inspector General by Nikolai Gogol and adapted by John Anderson is a high-spirited and keen witted satire on official crookedness and human stupidity. Corrupt officials fall over themselves to put their town back together after an inspector general is dispatched to scrutinize them, bribing and fawning over him to cover up their misdeeds. But it turns out the inspector general is not everything he appears to be. The Inspector General plays in rotating repertory April 7 - May 13.
Founded in 1963, the Hilberry Theatre is home to the nation\'s first and only graduate repertory company located in Detroit, MI. The rotating repertory style of presenting seven classic plays in an 8-month season has established the Hilberry as a cultural institution in the heart of Detroit. Over the years, the Hilberry has been honored with numerous awards by Detroit newspapers, including Theatre of the Year (The Detroit News), Best Professional Theatre (Between the Lines), Best Play and Best Director (Detroit Free Press), Best Overall Season 2003-2004 (The Oakland Press), and many individual awards for company members.
The 2005-2006 season runs from October 2005 through May 2006, and subscription tickets are on sale now. By choosing to become a subscriber, you have the opportunity to see all seven productions for as low as $84. Student rush tickets are also available for $10 the day of the performance. Groups interested in seeing a production are eligible for special discount rates. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on select Wednesdays and Saturdays. For school groups interested in attending a performance, morning matinees are available. The Hilberry Theatre is located on the corner of Cass and Hancock in Detroit. The box office is open October through May, Tuesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. To purchase tickets, or for more information call the Wayne State University box office at (313) 577-2972.
Play titles subject to change.