Fringe Spotlight: Ministers of Grace, The Unofficial Shakespearean Parody of Ghostbusters

06 May 2014 3 Comments

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags: ,

Ministers of GraceThe Hollywood Fringe Festival is just around the corner and this year, more than ever before, audiences will have an opportunity to see creative twists on some familiar classic plays, including some by Shakespeare. At last count, there were 8 productions scheduled to appear and, over the next few weeks, I’ll be checking in with them to get the inside scoop so you can make the most of your Fringe experience. It’s Shakespeare’s 450th birthday this year; let the games begin.

One of most anticipated Fringe offerings is from the director and co-writer of Pulp Shakespeare, which was a breakout hit in 2011 and received a Best of Fringe Award before going to the east coast and conquering the New York Fringe Festival. Jordan Monsell’s Ministers of Grace: The Unauthorized Parody of Ghostbusters will be presented as a one-night-only staged reading in preparation for a full production at a later date. It imagines what the movie Ghostbusters would be like if it was written by William Shakespeare, telling the story of three unemployed professors of the supernatural who set up shop as a unique spirit removal service. I think you’ll agree that it’s one not to miss.

Jordan, with such smart writing, it wasn’t surprising that Pulp Fiction became a Fringe favorite. How did you decide to make Ghostbusters your next project?  More

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Pulp Shakespeare, Back for Two Nights Only

23 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags:

If you didn’t see it previously you really missed out, but luckily, you’ll have two more chances next month. Her Majesty’s Secret Players is bringing back its critically acclaimed play Pulp Shakespeare for two nights only, June 6th and 7th (8pm) at The Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre. There will be a wine and cheese reception after both performances with the cast and production team.

After being selected as a “Best of Fest” winner at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Fest, the play enjoyed three sold out extensions at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood and this summer will travel to the New York Fringe Festival. Adapted by Ben Tallen, Aaron Greer, Brian Watson-Jones, and Jordan Monsell (who also directs), Pulp Shakespeare imagines what it may have been like had William Shakespeare written the cult film Pulp Fiction. Set in Elizabethan England, the play weaves the story of a pair of murderers (Vincenzio De Le Vega and Julius Winnfield), their boss’ alluring wife (Lady Mia of Wallace), and a desperate knight (Sir Coolidge of Kent, aka ‘The Butcher’). The Group Rep/Lonny Chapman Theatre is located at 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.

For tickets and more information go to www.hermajestyssecretplayers.com.

Pulp Shakespeare returns to Hollywood

18 Oct 2011 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Los Angeles Tags:

After a sold out and critically acclaimed west coast premiere, Her Majesty’s Secret Players return with an extended run of Pulp Shakespeare at the Theatre Asylum in Hollywood, scheduled to run through November 13.


Set in Elizabethan England, the play weaves the story of a pair of murderers, their boss’s alluring wife, and a desperate knight. It is directed by Jordan Monsell, the company’s founder and artistic director, and is based on an adaptation by Ben Tallen, Aaron Greer, Chris Adams, Brian Watson-Jones, and Monsell. The cast features Brian Weiss, Liza DeWeerd, Justine Woodford, Aaron Lyons, Dan White, Nick Ryan, Juan Perez, David Lautman, Christian Levatino, Nathaniel Freeman, Sierra Fisk and Michael Rachlis

Her Majesty’s Secret Players is dedicated to staging not only the classics, but modern stories with a classical “twist”, thus allowing audiences to enjoy Shakespeare on a whole new level. Click Here for tickets and more information.

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