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Doctor Faustus

By Christopher Marlowe
Directed by Jeremy Cole

October 24 through November 22, 2008

A man sells his soul to the devil - a tale that's been around so long that even in his day Cotton Mather would call it creaky (and then he'd still denounce it - loudly - as blasphemous).

In the right hands though, that plot has the power to shake modern audiences to their core.

You couldn't ask for better hands than Christopher Marlowe's, and "Doctor Faustus" is his masterpiece. Faustus is a scholar who has pursued all the fields of knowledge to their ends and casts about for ultimate knowledge. His deal with Lucifer highlights clashes between the medieval age and the coming renaissance as well as the battle (ongoing) between Christian and secular worlds.

Interestingly, two versions of the play exist, one published in 1604 and the other in 1616 (both years after Marlowe's death), but you'll have to come see our production to discover which version we're using... Either way, it's Mephistophilis, the 7 Deadly Sins and the Supernatural. Great theatre!


The reviews are in:

"Seldom has selling one's soul to the devil for magical knowledge and adventure been rendered onstage with such a spirit of fun." — The Berkeley Daily Planet

"Actors Ensemble of Berkeley impresses with unique production of Doctor Faustus." — The Daily Californian

"devilish fun" — East Bay Express

 


CAST

Doctor Faustus ......................................................................................... Harold Pierce
Mephistopheles ....................................................................................... Stanley Spenger
Wagner, Envy, Cardinal of France,
Duke of Saxony, Servant, Devil ................................................................. April Bennett
Good Angel, Lechery, Banio, Friar,
Paramour, Duke of Vanholt, Devil ...........................................................Kerry Gudjohnsen
Evil Angel, Gluttony, Belcher, Friar, Benvolio, Carter, Devil .....................James Tantum
Valdes, Lucifer, Pope, Knight, Hostess, Old Man, Devil ....................... Ulysses Popple
Cornelius, Sloth, Dick, She-Devil, Bruno, Devil .................................. Tavis Kammet
Scholar, Pride, King of Hungary,
Emperor of Germany, Horse, Duchess of Vanholt, Devil .................... Theresa Adams
Scholar, Wrath, Cardinal of Padua,
Knight, Vintner, Horse-Courser, Devil ...............................................Meira Perelstein
Robin, Covetousness, Friar, Alexander, Devil ................................... Matt Gunnison

CREW

Director, Light Design ....................................................................... Jeremy Cole
Stage Manager ................................................................................... Jose Garcia
Producer .......................................................................................... Jennifer Rice
Set Design ...................................................................................Norm De Veyra
Costume Design ........................................................................... Maria Graham
Costume Assistant ........................................................................Daniel C. Yelen
Graphic Design ........................................................................... Shu Ping Guan
Light Production ............................................................................... Sang S. Kim
Sound Production .............................................. Karen Oakley, Natascha Gruber
Backstage Crew ........................................................................... Ezodin Towfigh
Publicity ........................................................................................... Eric Carlson

 


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  Mephistopheles (Stanley Spenger) tempts Doctor Faustus (Harold Pierce) in Actors Ensemble of Berkeley's production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Photo by Eric Carlson.
 
Mephistopheles (Stanley Spenger) collects on Doctor Faustus' (Harold Pierce) debt in Actors Ensemble of Berkeley's production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Photo by Eric Carlson.  
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  Mephistopheles (Stanley Spenger) settles his deal with Doctor Faustus (Harold Pierce) in Actors Ensemble of Berkeley's production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Photo by Eric Carlson.
 
Doctor Faustus (Harold Pierce) settles his debt with Mephistopheles (Stanley Spenger) in Actors Ensemble of Berkeley's production of Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Photo by Eric Carlson.  
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Thank You

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is delighted to acknowledge the Berkeley Civic Arts Program and Civic Arts Commission's support in the form of a grant of $8,000.00 awarded in 2017. Also, a thank you to Theatre Bay Area for a grant of $2,500.00.

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Actors Ensemble of Berkeley - P.O. Box 663 - Berkeley - California - 94701 ¦ Our Answering Service: (510) 649-5999 ¦

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Federal Tax ID #946139640, since 04-1967