24th Street Theatre brings Canada’s international touring production to the U.S. for one weekend only. In this mischievous one-woman tour-de-force adaptation of King Lear, Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool—and every other character—to tell a very personal and poignant story with breathtaking hilarity and heartache. Upending expectations, Nearly Lear blends exuberant storytelling, music and film with Shakespeare’s poetic text to usher the audience firmly into the heart of this great story. Welcome to a Lear that is profoundly accessible and fun, while serving the spirit, language and emotional core of the play. (Rated PG – ages 7+).

Created by Hamnett with director Edith Tankus, Nearly Lear braves the most savage storm in English literature with breathtaking hilarity and heartache, honoring Shakespeare’s beautiful language while taking a bit of poetic license. Welcome to a Lear that is profoundly accessible and fun, while serving the spirit, language and emotional core of the play.

“This production is the ‘poster child’ for what we’re trying to do here at 24th STreet Theatre,” explains executive director Jay McAdams. “It’s in-your-face, gritty, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry theater that will be appreciated as much by kids as by their parents. In fact, it’s so hip and cool that adults without kids won’t want to miss it either.”

Nearly Lear opens on Friday, October 19 and runs through October 21. Tickets are $12-$15. 24^th STreet Theatre is located at 1117 West 24th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007-1725. For reservations and information, call (213) 745-6516; www.24thstreet.org; Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/24thSTor follow us on Twitter @24thST