STC Meet the Cast -- Tamburlaine

Director Michael Kahn discusses his production of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Tamburlaine. Marlowe's first play, Tamburlaine chronicles its hero's meteoric rise from humble origins to fearsome warrior and emperor of thousands. Tamburlaine desolates his adversaries, growing so ruthless that he marches on his beloved’s native country. With ravishing poetry, Marlowe ruminates on the corrupting influence of ambition and one man’s overwhelming desire for immortality. Tamburlaine exemplifies Marlowe’s extravagant style, immense sense of pageantry and bold characters. Michael Kahn directs, calling up "the combination of stylization and raw force that has brought his productions of classics to towering lifeâ€? (The Washington Post). Avery Brooks returns to play the title role after his acclaimed portrayals of Othello and Oedipus. Franchelle Stewart Dorn returns for the first time since 2000 to play the Empress of Turkey. The production runs October 28, 2007, to January 6, 2008, in Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.).