Ahab Returns

The tides have coursed Nantucket whaleship Pequod back home. In a collaborative effort between the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) and Theatre Workshop of Nantucket (TWN), the staged reading of Orson Welles’ Moby-Dick Rehearsed, will return to the NHA’s Gosnell Hall on July 14-17, and August 11-14, 2014.

The play, which was first performed in 1955 at the Duke of York Theatre in London, celebrates the enduring legacy of Herman Melville’s masterpiece of American literature. Theatre Workshop’s adaptation of Welles’ play comes alive under the 46-foot sperm whale skeleton in the Whaling Museum’s Gosnell Hall. Featuring an illustrious cast of community actors, the play evokes the essence of the ocean and turbulent life aboard a whaleship, as Ahab follows his obsession to find the great white whale.

“‘Back and extended by popular demand’ are the six words that sum up the 2014 production of Moby-Dick Rehearsed,” says Gabrielle Gould, TWN Executive Director. “To have TWN Artistic Director John Shea back as the indomitable Ahab, and also directing the production, is sure to bring this beloved performance to new heights for its fourth year.” Marjan Shirzad, NHA Director of Visitor Experience, says, “Audiences have never seen Ahab quite like this!”

After three summers of sold-out July performances, a second theatrical run has been added in August. Moby-Dick Rehearsed will run at the Whaling Museum July 14–17 and August 11–14, 2014. On both closing nights, July 17 and August 14, attendees will enjoy the performance followed by a cocktail reception and meet and greet with the cast. All performances will begin promptly at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets for this sure-to-sell-out event, visit nha.org/tickets or call 508-228-1894.