Irvine Barclay Theatre Presents National Theatre Live's FRANKENSTEIN, 7/8; Preservation Hall Jazz Band 7/6

Irvine Barclay Theatre will present National Theatre Live's Frankenstein in Association with Arts Orange County on Sunday, July 08, 2012 at 2pm and 6pm. To purchase tickets click here.

Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire) directs this visionary production of Mary Shelley's classic tale with two rising stars, Benedict Cumberbatch who plays the title character in the popular BBC series Sherlock, and Jonny Lee Miller, who plays Roger Collins in Tim Burton's new film Dark Shadows.

A unique part of this production is that the lead actors alternate performances in the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature, each bringing their own vision and individual stamp. Both actors were awarded a joint 2012 Olivier Award for Best Actor for their performances.

Two broadcasts:

2pm: Benedict Cumberbatch is the Creature and Jonny Lee Miller is Frankenstein

6pm: Jonny Lee Miller is the Creature and Benedict Cumberbatch is Frankenstein

Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein's bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless Creature, increasingly desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal.

Urgent concerns of scientific responsibility, parental neglect, cognitive development and the nature of good and evil are embedded within this thrilling and deeply disturbing classic gothic tale.

The stage performance of Frankenstein is recorded in front of a live audience at The National Theatre in London and will be presented at Irvine Barclay Theatre in high definition.

Performance Running Time: 2 hours (no intermission). Recommended for ages 15 and over. This performance contains a scene with some nudity. Tickets: $20 general; $15 student/senior.

Also presented by Irvine Barclay Theatre is the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Friday, July 06, 2012 at 8pm. To purchase tickets, follow this link. Tickets: $33, $38, $45.

Of all the styles of American music, none is more iconic than jazz: born of hard times, the music is a defiant celebration of freedom and individuality. It has taken many forms over the years, and continues to evolve, but New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band proves nightly that there’s plenty of adventure left in its original form: the rich musical interplay known as New Orleans-style jazz.

A French Quarter legend, Preservation Hall opened its doors in 1961, inspired by years of informal jam sessions that had taken place in the early 1800s building. Several of Preservation Hall’s original members honed their talents playing alongside jazz originators such as Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden and Jelly Roll Morton. Their craft, in turn, has been passed on directly to successive generations of band members. Not everyone can go to New Orleans, but the seven-piece band is only too glad to bring it to you on the Barclay stage.

Irvine Barclay Theatre is located at 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, Calif. Call 949-854-4646 or visit www.thebarclay.org for more information.