DEE SNIDER Talks To 'Fox 411' About 'Puppet Titus Andronicus' (Video)
July 30, 2014TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider was a guest on a recent edition of Fox News' "Fox 411" where he discussed his role as one of the producers behind the off-Broadway show "Puppet Titus Andronicus". Directed by Ryan Rinkel, "Puppet Titus Andronicus" began preview performances last Thursday, July 24 at Off-Broadway at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan, prior to an official press opening of July 30, and will continue to play through August 17.
It's "Avenue Q" meets the Reduced Shakespeare Company — "Puppet Titus Andronicus" is a fresh, comedic take on Shakespeare's "worst" play, featuring silly-string gore, a bunch of angry goths, a villainous anthropomorphic boar and all of the deaths, dismemberment, cannibalism and crimes against humanity that make "Titus" the "poetic atrocity" that it is.
"I hated Shakespeare," Snider tells LIHerald.com. "All of my kids like it, but I didn't get it at all. But then we went to see puppet Shakespeare and I thought, if you love Shakespeare, you will like puppet Shakespeare. If you hate Shakespeare, you will love puppet Shakespeare… I can only compare it to 'Springtime For Hitler' from 'The Producers'. It's taking horrendous subject matter and making you laugh against your will."
The cast of "Puppet Titus Andronicus" features Adam Weppler ("Beckett in Benghazi"),Sarah Villegas ("Little Shop of Horrors"),Christopher Gebauer, Alex Offenkrantz, Tom Foran ("A Dream Play"),Drew Torkelson ("Digital Dilemmas"),Shane Snider ("Puppet Romeo and Juliet"),A.J. Cote ("Puppet Hamlet"),Mindy Leanse ("The Ruin"),Ryan Rinkel, Ross Hamman ("Pick Your Poison: All's Fair In Love And War") and Abby Judd ("Azalea Path").
Set design for "Puppet Titus Andronicus" is by Holly Trotta and Kevin O'Callaghan (inductee into the Art Directors Hall Of Fame); lighting design by Leslie Smith; sound design by John Hull; costume design by Suzette Snider; and puppet design by A.J. Cote.
The Puppet Shakespeare Players combine Muppet-style puppetry with improvisational comedy and first folio techniques to create a theater going experience that is truly unique. Past shows include "Puppet Hamlet" and "Puppet Romeo And Juliet".
"Puppet Titus Andronicus" will be performed through August 17, with a performance schedule of Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Please note: the opening night performance of "Puppet Titus Andronicus" on Wednesday, July 30 will have a curtain time of 6:30 p.m.). Tickets for $49 and can be purchased calling 212-239-6200 or online at TeleCharge.com.
Snider appeared on WPIX-TV this past week to discuss his involvement with "Puppet Titus Andronicus". You can now watch the segment below.
For more information about "Puppet Titus Andronicus", visit www.PuppetShakespeare.org.
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