MEDIA CONTACT: Polly Burks
561-297-2595, pburks@fau.edu

FAU's Theatre Department Presents
Shakespeare's Classic Tragedy Hamlet

BOCA RATON, FL (September 14, 2005) - Florida Atlantic University's School of the Arts presents Shakespeare's classic tragedy Hamlet beginning Friday, September 30 and running through Sunday, October 9, 2005. The play will be held in the University Theatre on FAU's Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. Individual tickets may be purchased for $20 with group discounts available. FAU faculty, staff and alumni may purchase a ticket for $10 with ID, and FAU students may receive tickets for free with ID. Other students and children under 12 may purchase tickets for $10.

Arguably the most famous play in the English language, Shakespeare's early 17th century tragedy appropriates the legend of a Danish prince whose uncle murders his brother (the prince's father), marries the prince's mother and claims the throne. Shakespeare infuses his tragic hero with seemingly conflicting characteristics: an integrity and morality that coincide with a desire to avenge his father's murder, resulting in a saga of complexities and insufferable consequences for the entire kingdom. It is a tale of corruption, deceit and tragedy. It is Shakespeare at his finest.

It is also a play that has challenged actors through the ages. Sir Lawrence Olivier, Mel Gibson, Kenneth Branagh and Ethan Hawke have all appeared as Hamlet. FAU's production features graduate students in the University's nationally recognized department of theatre. The play is directed by Des Gallant.

Hamlet is presented by the School of the Arts' department of theatre in FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, in partnership with Bank of America, the Palm Beach County Cultural Council and Palm Beach County. Tickets may be purchased by calling 561-297-2977 or emailing artstickets@fau.edu, or may be purchased at the theatre one hour prior to the performance. For more information about the play, call 561-297-3810. For more information about other events at FAU's School of the Arts, call the arts update hotline at 561-297-2977 or visit www.fau.edu/artsupdate.

-FAU-