Directed by Michael Socrates Moran
Music composed by Paul Dresher

September 25, 2026-October 11, 2026

Oakland Theater Project and New Performance Traditions are thrilled to present their most ambitious co-production to date: a bold staging of William Shakespeare’s epic tragedy King Lear, featuring a cast of 30 and an original score composed by Paul Dresher and performed live by the Dresher|Davel Invented Instrument Duo

Directed by OTP Executive Artistic Director Michael Socrates Moran, the production stars J Jha—described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a fearless actor whose every performance seems to straddle the line between ecstasy and madness”—as Lear. Jha previously appeared in OTP’s Angels in America and Mahābhārata. The cast also features renowned performer, singer, and writer Rinde Eckert (Ghost Quartet) as the Fool, Dean Linnard as Edmund, Sarah Kasuga as Goneril, Natalie Pasquinelli as Regan, and Dina Zarif as Cordelia.

In the twilight of his rule, a king sets out to divide the kingdom among his three daughters. But in mistaking flattery for love, Lear’s foolish choices usher in a new reign of domination, cruelty, and collapse. As a self-styled “bastard” sets out to upend the ruling order, Lear must confront his own part in the kingdom’s downfall. Can he transform in time to reclaim what is sacred before the clown show becomes the new order?

TICKETS :: Z Space Box Office.

Priority $100 :: Select: $70 :: General $40 :: Pay-what-you-can $20 :: Pay-what-you-can $10

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King Lear: Production Photos

Photographs from the first day of the show.
Photos by Ben Krantz Studio.

Paul Dresher Composer, Hurdy Grande and keyboard

Joel Davel Marimba Lumina and percussion

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Cast

J Jha Lear	Rinde Eckert The Fool
Dean Linnard* Edmund	Sarah Kasuga Goneril
Natalie Pasquinelli Regan	Dina Zarif Cordelia
Rolando Morales Earl of Kent / Caius	David Sinaiko Earl of Gloucester
Tyler Aguallo Edgar / Poor Tom	A.J. Lugue Duke of Albany
Leo Kearney Duke of Burgundy	Joseph Alvarado Duke of Cornwall
Amr Hedayat Oswald / King Lear’s Ensemble	A’Nia Ferguson First Servant/ King Lear’s Ensemble
Amelia Costales-Downey Curan / Captain / King Lear’s Ensemble	Maria Seiple Second Servant / Herald/ King Lear’s Ensemble
Ma’Sherrod Swinson King of France / Third Servant	Angel Castro Monk / Bedlam Beggar
Joshua Bao Monk / Bedlam Beggar	Amber McCann Monk / Bedlam Beggar
Annabelle Ramos Monk / Bedlam Beggar	Yorgos Fetsis King Lear’s Ensemble
Alula Dreicer King Lear’s Ensemble	Nagomi Funabashi King Lear’s Ensemble

Sofia Alawi*
Cordelia Understudy

 

Local Drinks and Dining

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