King Lear Arrives After Nearly 30 Year Absence

Tampa Repertory Theatre presents KING LEAR at USF. 

“As far as I’ve researched, the last production of the epic Shakespearean tragedy in the area was in 1993. And that was in Sarasota,” says TampaRep Producing Associate Jim Sorensen. “And yet, nearly everyone still knows the name of this iconic figure.” 

Opening Friday, February 4th and running just three shows a week through February 20th, King Lear is a timeless story with themes which are still relevant over 400 years later. “Given the pride and divide we’ve all experienced over the last couple years, I’m certain our diverse community of theatre-goers will resonate with the plights of these characters,” shares producing artistic director Emilia Sargent. “The play deals with the shift in authority and power away from an aging ruler, both politically and within family dynamics. The disempowerment and invisibility of an aging population is insidious in our culture. King Lear shines a light on this issue.” 

Originally set to perform in May of ‘20, this long-awaited production will mark the return to TampaRep’s planned programming. Starring Michael Mahoney (The Iceman Cometh, Heisenberg, A View from the Bridge) as Lear, the production will be a tribute to the artistry and leadership of TampaRep’s late artistic director C. David Frankel, honoring his casting and intent for the piece. Frankel’s widow, Connie LaMarca-Frankel , and daughter-in-law Megan Lamasney , will direct, with Frank Chavez designing both sets and costumes, lights by Jo Averill-Snell, sound by Matt Cowley, original music by Igor Santos, fight choreography by Sarah Berland , and stage management by Chloe Dipaola and Claire Mayo. 

The cast of King Lear includes regional actors Roxanne Fay (Thrice to Mine, Doubt) as The Fool, Jim Wicker (Imagining Madoff, Heroes) as Gloucester, Jack Holloway (Hamlet, True West) as Kent. As Lear’s daughters, Jada Griffin, K Chinthana Sotakoun (OPEN), and MacKenzie Aaryn will play Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia, respectively. Gloucester’s sons are Cranstan Cumberbatch (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Giver) as Edmund, and Matthew Frankel (Betrayal, Alcestis) as Edgar. And rounding out the cast: Dean Wick as Albany, Jeff Lukas (A View from the Bridge) as Cornwall, Harrison Baxley (The Giver) as Oswald & Burgundy, and Chase Tomberlin as Knight, et al. 

King Lear will also mark the beginning of an educational collaboration between TampaRep and the USF School of Theatre and Dance. For this production, students will study and create under the guidance of professional designers working on the project. And In addition, C. David Frankel will be memorialized with an annual scholarship at USF. “This production is also important to us as a way to honor our friend and mentor, C. David Frankel. His loss is felt frequently, but the fact that we’re working at USF with so many of the cast members he chose and with several members of his family makes us feel that his support surrounds us,” offers Sargent. 

KING LEAR 

by William Shakespeare 

directed by Connie LaMarca-Frankel 

co-directed by Megan Lamasney 

with Michael Mahoney as Lear 

February 4-20, 2022 @USF 

Our epic production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear features TampaRep mainstay Michael Mahoney (Heisenberg, The Iceman Cometh). Continuing TampaRep’s tradition of presenting theatrical events such as The Iceman Cometh and Inherit The Wind, our production is dedicated to our fearless leader, C. David Frankel. Using minimalism, magic, and a cast of new and familiar faces, King Lear promises to be the theatrical event of the season. 

Performance Times/Dates 

Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30pm (Feb 4,5,11,12,18,19) 

Sunday matinees at 3:00pm (Feb 6,13,20) 

Tickets & Pricing: 

$40 Adults / $35 Seniors & Military / $20 Students 

Passes 

RepPass – The Tampa Repertory Theatre Flexible Ticket 

● A convenient-to-use punchcard of five (5) flexible use tickets 

● each punch may be redeemed for a single admission to any* show in the 2021-2022 season 

● $165 

Purchase tickets or passes by visiting http://www.tamparep.org

Health & Safety 

During the production, all audience members and staff are strongly encouraged to wear masks in the theatre. 

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