Othello Celebrates Her 400th Birthday.
Women's Rep Will Stage All-Female Version of Shakespeare's Play. --- Exactly 4 centuries ago the first production of William Shakespeare's "OTHELLO, Moor of Venice" opened at The Globe, drawing gasps and guffaws from excited Londoners eager to satiate their curiosity over the dark-skinned general who rose to power in a white, male-dominated state. His secret marriage to the young daughter of one of its most powerful senators makes for the kind of heady brew destined for today's tabloids. Add to that the psychological torture by a once loyal subordinate, enraged over a lost promotion, and you have a theatrical explosion producing the "green-eyed monster that mocks the meat it feeds on." Ambition, lust, racism are among the traits lurking in Shakespeare's great roles, but unfortunately, the most succulent were written for men. Women's Rep Artistic Director Gayle Feldman-Avery saw great potential for women to portray such characters as the conflicted Othello and the wily Iago. The twist lives up to Women's Rep's commitment to explore the classics from a non-gender bias, as well as providing a preponderance of roles to women.

The production is under the direction of Delicia Turner Sonnenberg currently an Associate Artist at the San Diego REP. She has directed in New York at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Expanded Arts, The Theatre Studio, and New Directions Theatre. A superb cast includes: Sylvia M'Lafi Thompson as Othello, Gayle Feldman-Avery as Iago, Jo Glover as Desdemona, MSusan Niemann as Roderigo, Gina Alvarado as Cassio, Wendy Waddell as Emilia, Morgan Trant as Bianca, Helen Marquardt as Brabantio, Kim Strassburger as The Duke of Venice, and Natalie Sentz as Montano.
Othello runs June 13 through July 20; Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 7 pm; with a 2 pm matinee on Saturday, July 20 only. The Actor’s Asylum is located at 6663 El Cajon Blvd. in the Music Trader shopping complex. Ticket prices are as follows: General Admission: Thursday , Sunday , Sat matinee $15; Friday and Saturday $18 Students, Seniors, Military: Thur, Sun, Sat matinee $12; Fri, Sat $15 Tickets can be reserved or purchased by calling (619) 282-3277.