Actors’ Shakespeare Project Kicks Off Its 2015-16 Season With Othello

Othello starts performances at The Modern Theatre at Suffolk University this evening.

The play begins in 16th-century Venice, where Othello, "the Moor," has secretly married a beautiful white woman, Desdemona, who is the daughter of a prominent senator. When Othello is posted to Cyprus, his ensign Iago escorts Desdemona and his own wife to the island. Meanwhile Iago, who is bitter after being passed over for a promotion, makes plans of his own. The ensuing story of love, betrayal, and deception is one of Shakespeare’s best-known tragedies and highlights the destructiveness of jealousy and ambition.

Bridget Kathleen O’Leary directs the Shakespearean tragedy, which features Johnnie McQuarley as Othello, Jennie Israel as Emilia, John Kuntz as Iago, Elle Borders as Bianca and Montana, Josephine Elwood as Desdemona, Thomas Grenon as Gratiano, Clown, and Duke, Ross MacDonald as Cassio, and Bari Robinson as Roderigo and Lodovico.

"Everyone in the world of this play is in some way betrayed by their own assumptions of their place within their relationships," said director Bridget Kathleen O’Leary. "The play begins with Othello's betrayal of Iago and continues with Desdemona's betrayal of her father. And it goes on from there."

The creative team includes Eric Levenson (set design), Tyler Kinney (costume design), Chris Brusberg (lighting design), and David Reiffel (sound design).

Performances will run through October 25.

For tickets and more information, click here.