California Shakespeare Theater

Cal Shakes Hosts Nordli's Virgins to Villains

California Shakespeare Theater, as a special addition to its 2015 season, will present the autobiographical one-woman show, Virgins to Villains, written and performed by Oregon Shakespeare Festival company member and Cal Shakes alumna Robin Goodrin Nordli in a special one-night only performance on Monday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Bruns Amphitheater.

Nordli, a 22-year OSF company member, has performed 71 roles in 55 productions of 28 different Shakespeare plays. Virgins to Villains, which premiered at OSF in 2012 takes you on her personal journey through the female side of Shakespeare's canon, and how it has resonated in her life—a journey of virgins to villains.

“I'm a firm believer in having a lot of humor, because I think sometimes Shakespeare becomes a sacred cow,” said Nordli in an earlier interview. “It's about saying ‘Look, it's nothing to be afraid of. Shakespeare is accessible. Shakespeare resonates in your life. Even if you don't understand every word, it doesn't matter.' There are phenomenal stories and journeys and what that means to each of us in today's society. I think demystifying Shakespeare has always been a big thing for me. When I started out in high school, I had a teacher who just said figure out what you're saying and find a way to mean it. Of course, it's more than that, but that was a fabulous starting point.”

Nordli holds an MFA from the American Conservatory Theatre and has worked professionally as an actor since 1984. Prior to that, and during her time with OSF, she has performed at South Coast Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, The American Conservatory Theatre, The Vita Shakespeare Festival, The Grove Shakespeare Festival, and five seasons with The California Shakespeare Festival. She has played leading roles in plays by Chekhov, Molière, Shaw, Coward, and Ibsen as well as in contemporary works and musicals. She is one of 21 actors chosen for inclusion in North American Players of Shakespeare, A Book of Interviews. She appears on the cover of, and her work is discussed in, the book Women Direct Shakespeare in America.

Single tickets for Virgins and Villains are $30 and $65; the higher-priced ticket includes a post-show reception with Nordli. For information or to charge tickets by phone with VISA, MasterCard, or American Express, call the Cal Shakes Box Office at 510-548-9666. Additional information and online ticketing are available at www.calshakes.org.

Cal Shakes celebrates its 41st season and the last under the leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone, who has been in that position since 2000.

June 24, 2015

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