Shakespeare Theatre Company Presents Basil Twist's Petrushka

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes to its stage world-renowned puppeteer Basil Twist and his production of Petrushka, which will run at STC's Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) from March 16-25, 2012. This limited engagement is part of STC's and its Artistic Director Michael Kahn's 25th Anniversary Season.

Petrushka tells the tragic love story of three puppets at a Russian Carnival. Petrushka, the clown, falls in love with the charming Ballerina at first sight. The scheming and rich Moor loves the Ballerina as well, and seduces her with beautiful things. She rejects the earnest advances of Petrushka, who, upset and lonely, confronts the Moor. In order to make this story come to life, Twist sets it against the backdrop of a specially created two-piano version of Stravinsky's original ballet score. Nine hidden puppeteers use a combination of Czech and Japanese techniques to bring the puppets to life.

Regarded by the Creative Capital Foundation as one of the most "ambitious and imaginative" puppeteers in the world, Basil Twist has brilliantly re-imagined the Ballet Russes production of Petrouchka. It first premiered in 2001 at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and is now a part of the D.C. festival celebrating Basil Twist presented by the Shakespeare Theatre Company, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and The Studio Theatre. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center will present Symphonie Fantastique where puppets manipulate cloths inside a water tank, running March 29-31. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will present Arias with a Twist with cabaret sensation Joey Arias performing songs with a background of puppetry running April 4-May 6. The Studio Theatre will present Dogugaeshi which features original shamisen compositions created by musician Yumiko Tanaka from April 12-22.

This festival is the first time four of Twist's works will be presented in one city in a close repertory with collaborating organizations. This tour of Basil Twist is made possible by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For tickets and more information, call 202.547.1122 or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org.