The Laboratory Theater of Florida just announced the extension of the regional premiere of Jordan Tannahill’s extravaganza, Botticelli in the Fire. It opened Feb. 26 and now will play through April 4 in Fort Myers.
Remaining performance dates are March 11, 12, 13, 25, 26, 27 and April 1, 2, 3 at 8 p.m., with matinees on March 13, 14, 28 and April 4 at 2 p.m.
Sandro Botticelli is the promiscuous life of the party. While painting his masterpiece, The Birth of Venus, the plague rages outside and a conservative preacher is blaming the sodomites. Set in a 15th century that has skinny jeans and cell phones, will the famous artist sacrifice his painting or his young apprentice, Leonardo da Vinci?
Director Annette Trossbach says, “Sassy, sexy, funny, heartbreaking, timely – Botticelli in the Fire is the most revolutionary theater I’ve read since Hamilton. Author Jordan Tannahill excavates the queer history of Sandro Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci to tell the story of the creation of The Birth of Venus with all the political machinations, fear, urgency, hysteria, and privilege experienced by the main actors at the time.
Set in the 15th century, Jordan Tannahill employs casual vernacular and modern elements (cell phones, skinny jeans) as well as 15th and 20th-century music to tell this historically-based story, which is a masterpiece in modern theater. Guests will see parallels to today’s world in the plague, the rise of extremism, classism, and the scapegoating of sex and sexuality for political agendas.”
This show features Steven Coe as Sandro Botticelli, Steven Michael Kennedy as Leonardo da Vinci, Daniel Sabiston as Poggio di Chullu, Madelaine Weymouth as Clarice Orsini, F. Scott Davis as Girolamo Savonarola, David Cooley as Lorenzo de’ Medici, and Renée Freeman as Madre Maria. Costumes by Casey and Ariana Davis. Lighting design by Jonathan Johnson. Stage management by Margaret Cooley.
This show features adult language, nudity, sexual situations, and mature themes. No one under 18 will be admitted.
For the protection of the cast, which will not be masked during the performance, the theater requires that all patrons wear their masks over their noses and mouths during their entire stay at the theater. For further information on what the theater is doing to keep its casts, crews, and guests safe, visit the website and review the pandemic protocol. Seating is limited and sold by section for safety.
For tickets, call the box office at 239-218-0481 or online at www.laboratorytheaterflorida.com. The theater is located at 1634 Woodford Avenue, in the Fort Myers River District.
