Shakespeare Theatre Company

Supreme Court Justice Hears Hamlet Case

In this unique criminal trial, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is accused of murdering Polonius, Laertes, and King Claudius. Hamlet is pleading insanity—but is he truly insane?

"The Trial of Hamlet" is returning to the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in Washington, D.C., for the first time in over a decade on Monday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m. at STC's Sidney Harman Hall. The Trial is being staged in conjunction with STC's production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, January 16–February 25. The production will be directed by retiring STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn and star Michael Urie in the title role.

The Trial, produced by the company's Bard Association, lawyers, and other judiciary professionals who are patrons of the theater, will be argued by defense attorney Abbe David Lowell while U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, is slated to serve as the prosecution. The Trial's original creator, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, will serve as the judge. The program also will feature two expert witnesses and a grand jury of special guests tasked with announcing the verdict. A full list of participants will be announced at a later date.

The theater is offering several levels of tickets topping out with a $125 price that includes premium tickets in Sidney Harman Hall's orchestra seating for the Trial plus a postshow VIP Reception. Trial-only tickets are $85 and $65 depending on seat location, and student tickets will be available for $20.

Trial + VIP Reception Tickets can only be purchased through STC's Special Events Department and will not be made available online. Ticket sales for Bard Association members have already begun. Ticket sales for Shakespeare Star Contributors and Subscribers begin on Monday, December 18, at noon, while general public ticket sales begin at noon on Thursday, December 21.

December 15, 2017

If you have Shakespearean news to share, e-mail [email protected]