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Rick Miramontez / Ellie Detweiler
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

“THOU HAST SLEPT WELL. AWAKE”

KNOCK AT THE GATE
INTRODUCES ITS THIRD VIRTUAL AUDIO EXPERIENCE
“THE TEMPEST:
A SURROUND SOUND ODYSSEY”
AVAILABLE TO STREAM FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 1
STARRING HALE APPLEMAN, EMILY SKEGGS, JOEL DE LA FUENTE AND DEREK WILSON

SPECIAL TEASER AVAILABLE HERE
DOWNLOAD ARTWORK HERE
DOWNLOAD CAST HEADSHOTS HERE

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

New York, NY (January 26, 2024) – Today, Knock at the Gate producers Joseph Discher and Sean Hudock announced its third immersive audio experience, The Tempest: A Surround Sound Odyssey, will be available to stream from Friday, February 16 through Friday, March 1 starring Hale Appleman (SyFy’s “The Magicians,” FX’s “American Horror Story”) as ‘Ariel,’ Tony® and Grammy® Award nominee Emily Skeggs (Broadway’s Fun Home) as ‘Miranda,’ Joel de la Fuente (Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle) as ‘Prospero,’ and Derek Wilson (Amazon’s “Gen V,” Hulu’s “Future Man”) as ‘Caliban.’

Tickets for the stream are $9.99 and are available for purchase at KnockattheGate.com. The broadcast is available worldwide on all internet connected devices with a dimmable screen and a pair of headphones. Audiences will receive a link and password to access the listening portal prior to the broadcast.

“Ope thine ear.” The Tempest: A Surround Sound Odyssey is a brave new hi fi 3D audio experience from immersive audio creators Knock at the Gate, designed for anywhere in the dark on a pair of headphones. Following the company’s critically acclaimed smash hit streaming events Macbeth: A Surround Sound Experiment and Caesar: A Surround Sound Experiment, Knock at the Gate’s third virtual audio-only production immerses listeners deeper than did ever plummet sound into the heart of Shakespeare’s tale of magic and miracles and the mysterious depths and shores of an enchanted island where a vengeful sorcerer is conjuring his final spell.

Rounding out the cast are Michael Daly, Sean Hudock, Greg Jackson, Maurice Jones, Raphael Nash Thomspon, Shane Taylor, Patrick Toon.

Soundscape is by Leigh Roberts. Associate Sound Designer is Kristina Tevdoradze. Sound Editor and Associate Sound Designer is Rider Q Stanton. Production Coordinator is Denise Cardarelli. Adapted & Directed by Joseph Discher.

For our third immersive audio production we were inspired to challenge ourselves and dive ‘full fathom five’ into reimagining Shakespeare’s enchanted tale as a sonic adventure for the dark and headphones,” said producer Sean Hudock. “Shakespeare’s final masterpiece lends itself to a sonically rich environment and has something for everyone: action, drama, comedy and romance–all infused with magic. This production of The Tempest will transport you to the sea, shipwreck you on a mysterious island, and take you on a wild ride.” said director Joseph Discher.

The production is made possible thanks to generous support from former New Jersey Governor the Honorable Thomas H. Kean and the S. Dillard and Adrienne Kirby Family Philanthropic Fund as well as Chris D. Schmidt, David Skinner and donors and fans from all over the world who contributed to a successful Kickstarter crowdsourcing campaign earlier this year.

Virtual seating takes place each night of the run February 16 through March 1. Streams begin at 8:00 PM ET and are available for 72 hours following.

Zoom talkbacks led by special guests including journalist and host of the popular Shakespeare’s Shadows podcast Emily Rome will take place throughout the run with further details to be announced on Knock at the Gate’s socials.

“Like the trippiest campfire stories, tap into your imagination through your ears.”
– New York Times

“Excellent. Raised hairs on the back of my neck, listeners are in for a treat under the blood moon.”
– Theatermania

CAST & CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES (in alphabetical order)

Hale Appleman (Ariel). Recent credits include FX’s “American Horror Story: NYC,” Apple TV’s “Truth Be Told” and the long running series, “The Magicians,” streaming on Netflix. On stage, Appleman starred in the New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play as ‘Jesus’ and the revival of David Rabe’s Streamers, and Jeff Buckley’s The Last Goodbye directed by Alex Timbers. Recorded plays include Audible Theater’s Daddies and Sam Shepard’s Buried Child for L.A. Theaterworks.

Joel de la Fuente (Prospero) is an award-winning actor who has performed all over the world on stage and screens.  He has performed Jeanne Sakata’s one person play, “Hold These Truths” in a dozen venues around the US.  He can be seen as Inspector Kido on one of Amazon Prime’s most successful shows ever, “The Man in the High Castle.” He will also appear as a series regular on the upcoming season of, “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” on AMC/AMC+ this Fall.  This is Joel’s fourth collaboration with Knock at the Gate. IG/X:  @joeldelafuente

Joseph Discher (director/co-founder of Knock at the Gate). With a deep passion for Shakespeare and a career rooted in the classics, Joe is thrilled to bring The Tempest to life as an audio adventure. He has worked off-Broadway and in regional theatres across the country. The New York Times has called his directing work “enchanting,” and “beautiful,” and “devastatingly effective.” He is the artistic director and co-founder of Knock at the Gate, for which he adapted and directed Macbeth: A Surround Sound Experiment and Caesar: A Surround Sound Experiment. Joe was the associate artistic director and resident director at Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey where he worked for twenty years. Off-Broadway: Butler and The Violin at 59E59 and Vilna at St. Clement’s Theatre. Selected regional credits: The Tempest, Twelfth Night, Henry IV: Part One, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Cymbeline, The Diary of Anne Frank, To Kill a Mockingbird, Our Town, Amadeus, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath, (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), Butler (Barrington Stage) Antony and Cleopatra, starring Michael Dorn (Orlando Shakespeare Theatre), Julius Caesar (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis), A Moon for the Misbegotten and My Name is Asher Lev (Playhouse on Park), As You Like It, Red, and The Weir (Theatreworks). Joe is also a professional singer and audiobook narrator and directed Irish Rep’s audio drama of Bikeman in honor of the 20^th Anniversary of 9/11, starring Broadway veteran Robert Cuccioli.

Emily Skeggs (Miranda) can currently be found on Hulu in the lead role in the feature film, Dinner in America, produced by Ben Stiller, which competed at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, in the Hulu feature film The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, and a lead role opposite Marcia Gay Harden in Love You to Death for Lifetime and Sony. She was fantastic opposite Chloë Grace Moretz in Desiree Akhavan’s The Miseducation of Cameron Post, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. She was also seen in Pete Berg’s feature film, Mile 22, opposite Mark Wahlberg. In TV, Emily starred as one of the leads in Dustin Lance Black’s eight-part ABC miniseries, “When We Rise,” directed by Gus van Sant, playing the young version of Mary-Louise Parker’s ‘Roma’ character. Emily was nominated for dual Tony and Grammy Awards for her performance in Sam Gold’s hit Broadway musical, Fun Home, which she did while shooting a recurring role on Brannan Braga’s series, “Salem.” She can usually be found talking to the plants on her small farm in Los Angeles and she recently taught her cat to sit.

Derek Wilson (Caliban). TV and Film include: “The Boys,” “Gen V,” “Billions,” “Future Man,” Birds of Prey, “Preacher,” “Aquarius,” “Person of Interest,” “The Good Wife,” and “Rectify.” He has been in numerous productions at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey including Waiting for Godot, Richard III, and Joe Discher’s production of Henry IV part 1. Other theatre roles include Anna Christie at Berkshire Theatre Festival and Macbeth at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Other roles for Knock at the Gate’s audio productions include Macbeth in Macbeth and Brutus in Julius Caesar.

Michael Daly (Stephano). A native of Boston, MA, but a proud resident of North Jersey, Michael has been doing the theater thing professionally since he was eight years old. Favorite Regional Theater work includes many productions at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, as well as at the Orlando, Pennsylvania and Utah Shakespeare Festivals, among others. He spent several seasons at Milwaukee Rep, the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, and the Florida Studio Theater in Sarasota. TV credits include Warner Brother’s Gotham and HBO’s The Undoing. As a voice actor, he was part of the documentary The Murder of God’s Banker and has several audio book titles on Audible.com. He’s grateful to his friend Joe Discher and his fellow Tempest Clowns for making this unique Knock at the Gate audio experience so much fun.

Sean Hudock (Ferdinand/co-founder of Knock at the Gate) is a theater, audio and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He co-founded Knock at the Gate in 2020. Producing work includes the creation and development of original award-winning plays and musicals which have been seen at Berkeley Rep, Arena Stage, Amphibian Stage, Primary Stages, Ars Nova and beyond. As an actor, on screen he starred opposite Seth Numrich, Matt Doyle and Hale Appleman in Private Romeo, The Chaperone opposite Elizabeth McGovern and Haley Lu Richardson, Comedy Central’s “Alternatino” with Arturo Castro, and onstage in leading roles at Cleveland Play House, SoHo Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and Alabama Shakespeare Festival.

Greg Jackson (Trinculo). Broadway: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder. The Lion King (Nat’l Tour), To Kill A Mockingbird (Nat’l Tour). Off-Broadway: The 39 Steps, Duet!, Go-Go Kitty, GO! Regional: Ogunquit Playhouse, Portland Center Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter, St. Louis Rep., Geva, Pioneer, Cape Playhouse, Weston Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Mile Square, Tennessee Rep, The Acting Company, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. TV: “Blue Bloods,” “New Amsterdam.”

Maurice Jones (Sebastian). Broadway: The Lifespan of a Fact, Saint Joan, The Cherry Orchard, Romeo & Juliet, and Julius Caesar. Off-Broadway: Park Avenue Armory, Atlantic Theater Company, MTC, Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company. Regional: Chicago Shakespeare, Williamstown Folger Theatre, Two River Theater, Barrington Stage, Denver Center, NJ Shakespeare. Television: “Godfather of Harlem,” “Evil,” “Blue Bloods,” “Elementary,” “The Good Fight,” “30 Rock.” Film: Winter’s Tale, Romeo & Juliet, And So It Goes.

Leigh Roberts (Sound Design) has scored numerous projects for television networks like HBO, Discovery Channel, PBS, and A&E. He has also composed dramatic music for television shows including “House,” “White Collar,” “Graceland” and “Power Rangers,” and co-composed the international main title of the hit television show “House” with fellow composer Jon Ehrlich.

Raphael Nash Thompson (Gonzalo). Broadway: The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (The Village Crier, Inc). Off-Broadway: Shared Sentences (Houses on The Moon Theater), Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Heartbreak House (Gingold Theatrical Group), F*cking A (Signature Theatre), Pericles (dir. Trevor Nunn, Theatre for a New Audience), Pericles, Volpone, The Witch of Edmonton, Edward II (Red Bull Theater). Regional: Miss You Like Hell (Center Stage), The Guard (City Theatre), All the Days (McCarter Theatre), Richard III (Shakespeare Theatre Company, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival),  Julius Caesar (Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis), Othello, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Electra (Hartford Stage), Paul Robeson (TheaterWorks), Ajax (dir. Peter Sellars, American National Theater), The Threepenny Opera (Wilma Theater), Gal Baby (dir. Kenny Leon, Alliance Theater). Film: Searching for Bobby Fischer, Kiss of Death, Clockers. TV: “Search Party” (HBO Max), “Elementary” (CBS), “Ed” (NBC), “Third Watch” (NBC), “Soul Food” (Showtime).

Shane Taylor (Alonso) was previously featured in Knock at the Gate’s surround sound productions of Caesar and Macbeth and is thrilled to be part of another production. Off-Broadway, he has showcased his talent in notable productions, including Knives in Hens at The Shop Theater, the 50th Anniversary Production of In White America at New Federal/Castillo Theatre, and Romeo and Juliet at Lincoln Center Institute. In New York, he graced the stage in The Desire at The Billie Holiday Theatre and The Love Talker at NY Fringe. Regionally, Shane has left his mark at esteemed theaters such as Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Luna Stage, Premiere Stages, Roundhouse Theater, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Berkeley Rep, Florida Studio Theater, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. His contributions extend to the world of film with notable performances in God’s Forgotten House and Sarbane’s Oxley, the latter earning him the title of Best International Actor at the 2007 Barbados International Film Festival. On the small screen, Shane has graced audiences in “King of the Bingo Game” (PBS) and made numerous appearances and voice-overs in national commercials. Most recently, he captivated audiences in Fences at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival alongside Tony Todd and Ella Joyce. Shane holds an MFA from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Patrick Toon (Antonio) has collaborated with Knock at the Gate on past productions of Macbeth (‘Macduff,’ ‘The Porter/Bloody Sergeant’) and in Julius Caesar where he gave voice to ‘Cinna the Poet,’ a character that has fascinated him since high school.  Favorite stage roles include ‘Mr. Dussel’ in The Diary of Anne Frank, ‘Jim’ in The Weir, ‘Peter Quince’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and ‘Chaplain Matt’ in ReEntry, a show about mental health and the military.  Patrick runs to raise money for Alzheimer’s research.

ABOUT KNOCK AT THE GATE

Born over a bonfire and fueled by Shakespeare and the science of sound, Knock at the Gate builds narrative immersive audio experiences with the goal of providing meaningful creative collaboration for theater and filmmakers around the world, fostering new connections between artists and audiences, and pushing the boundaries of immersion, resonance and access through the power of sound alone. Since launching in late 2020, Knock at the Gate’s critically acclaimed 3D audio experiences, designed for the dark and a pair of headphones, have streamed to thousands of listeners around the world and been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, American Theater Magazine, on NPR, and “Good Day New York.” In Fall 2021, the company led its first residency at Emory University bringing students and professional artists together in an exploration of Shakespeare and virtual audio production. To date Knock at the Gate projects have raised nearly $15,000 for The Entertainment Community Fund, a national services organization for arts workers in need. Knock at the Gate is a fiscally sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3).

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