Directed & Adapted by Elizabeth Dinkova (she/her), Coriolanus was originally produced in Shakespeare in the Woods' 2022 Season. This radical, explosive adaptation features an all femme & non-binary cast, an immersive original soundscape by Anaís Azul (they/them), and is conceptualized as a retelling of the story about the fall of a controversial Roman hero through the eyes of his wife Virgilia in the context of an asylum interview.

Casting includes : Nemuna Ceesay* [ Tectonic Theater Project's Here There are Blueberries at New York Theatre Workshop, ART, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Playwrights Horizon, among others]; Nicole Villamil* [Broadway: The Network with Bryan Cranston, MCC Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, among others]; Thi Le*; Raghad Makhlouf [DC-based artist who has performed at Signature Theater, Folger Theater, and Shakespeare Theater Company, and in Spooky Action Theater’s 2024 Helen Hayes Nominated Agreste.]; Frances Inés Rodriguez [Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) at La MaMa and La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theater Festival, and others- and has made The NYT critics pick twice, being described as "Scene stealing" by Jose Solis]. These incredible performers join 2022 original production cast members: Paula Sim*, Katharine Maness, and Anaís Azul.

*We wish to express our gratitude to the Performers’ Unions: ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN GUILD OF MUSICAL ARTISTS, AMERICAN GUILD OF VARIETY ARTISTS, SAG-AFTRA through Theatre Authority, Inc. for their cooperation in permitting the Artists to appear in this program.

Synopsis: Seeking asylum after a brutal war has decimated Rome, the displaced survivors reconstruct their country’s tumultuous past to build a better future. As the republic faces threats from within and without - a war with the neighboring Volsces and civil strife between the wealthy elite and poor citizens- Coriolanus, a decorated war hero wary of compromise and bred for combat, becomes a pawn in others' political machinations. When he is exiled as a traitor to the people and enemy to democracy, his anger shatters the veneer of civility and plunges Rome into chaos. When all is said and done, can his mother and wife’s defiant vulnerability pierce the shield of toxic masculinity and save Rome from burning?

All tax-deductible donations & ticket proceeds of the benefit staged reading event will directly support Shakespeare in the Woods' 2024 Season. SitW currently receives the majority of its funding from a combination of grants and sustained individual donors, followed by grassroots fundraising, ticket sales, and playbill advertisers.

About: Shakespeare in the Woods (SitW) is an outdoor theatre company experimenting with the Bard's canon through a modern, radical, and gender expansive queer lens. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Manchester, VT.

Each production seeks to deliver a professional caliber celebration of classical text through unconventional, innovative, and socially aware approach, all while embracing Vermont’s natural offerings. The intention behind every production is to meet the natural landscape with respect, and to mindfully work in collaboration with nature versus imposing upon it.

SitW is at its core a manifestation of queer artistic expression. The company has built a creative space in Southern VT for BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ artists to bring their full uncompromising selves to their work, which also provides a cyclical opportunity with audiences, especially those holding intersecting identities, to experience authentic representation in theatre. To learn more visit www.shakespeareinthewoods.org

Event Ticket Pricing: $85-$250

Donation Giving Levels:

$50: Groundling Tier (general season support)

$100: Village Tier (contributes to season production costs)

$250: Birnam Wood Tier (contributes to set design materials)

$500: Northshire Tier (covers all roundtrip artist transportation to and from Vermont. Recognition in 2024 playbill)

$1,000: Illyrian Tier (contributes to the season’s artist housing & pay. Recognition in 2024 playbill)

$2,500: Equinox Tier (covers all of the season’s lighting & tech equipment. Recognition in 2024 playbill and website)

$5,000: Bard’s Tier (covers a week of pay for 13 seasonal artists, equal to the average grant award amount. Recognition in 2024 playbill and webpage)

SitW is proud to be fiscally sponsored by The Center for Arts and Learning, a non-profit arts organization based in central Vermont.

Coriolanus: Benefit Staged Reading

A one night only event to support Shakespeare in the Woods

Team Members