2026 Season

The Prince Part 1

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written and directed by Gary Graves
Jul 18–Sep 6

the life and times of Niccolo Machiavelli
2 plays performed in rotation

The Prince Part 1 follows young Niccolo’s entrance into the bloody business of Florentine politics on his mission to the “Mad Monk” Savonarola, and his temptation by the murderous Duke Cesare Borgia.

Inspired by Machiavelli’s  infamous “Handbook for Tyrants”

One big story, two big plays, playing in rotation.

 

 Click here  for more information about Part 2

 

 Buy tickets  for Parts 1 & 2

 

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR

Show times: Thu-Sat at 7:00pm, Sun at 5pm
Previews: Part 1 July 16 & 17, Part 2 July 30 & 31


   Click calendar for a larger version

Single Tickets

Fri-Sun: $35-45
Thu & previews: pay-what-you-can

Day of Performance Discounts

Fri-Sun: sliding scale $45-$20 at noon day of show

Information & subscriber reservations

Call 510.558.1381

Please note: We reserve seats only for subscribers; general seating for all other ticket-holders.

Running Time

Part 1: 180 minutes with 2 intermissions

Mark Farrell* (Brother Jerome Savonarola)
Brennan Pickman-Thoon*
(Duke Cesare Borgia)
Kevin Singer (Niccolo Machiavelli)

Writer/Director: Gary Graves
Stage Managers: Alandra Hileman, Louel Señores
Costume design: Tammy Berlin
Sound design: Gregory Scharpen

Production Sponsors: Michelle Barbour & Christian Baudry
Production Sponsor: Sophie & The Rheinheimer Family

*member Actors Equity Association

 


Gary Graves
(writer/director) has been a resident playwright and company co-director at Central Works since 1998.  He has been a part of developing 81 world premiere productions with the company, many of which he has either written and/or directed.  Titles of plays he has written include:  Red Virgin, Richard the First (a trilogy), The Grand Inquisitor, Dracula Inquest, and most recently, The Last Goat.  He’s been working on The Prince Part 1 & Part 2 since he was a wee lad in grad school, back in 1986.  They say “Plays are not written—they’re re-written.”

 


Mark Farrell*
(Jerome Savanarola) is pleased to return to Central Works for the third time, the first being in The Golden Era in 1996 (written and directed by Gary Graves). Mark has appeared in over 80 productions nationally and beyond. Credits: 1776 (American Conservatory Theatre); The 39 Steps, Rumors, Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Story (Center REP); Next To Normal (Arizona Theatre Company); MATILDA (CCMT); The Prince (Central Works, 2010); The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s Completely Hollywood: Abridged (Belgium/Holland Tour); Around The World In 80 Days (Laguna Playhouse/San Jose Rep/Center Rep); Putnam County Spelling Bee (San Jose Rep); Judgment At Nuremberg, A Doll’s House (Willows Theatre); The Crucible, Old Wicked Songs (Marin Theatre Company); The Fantsticks (BATCC award, SF Playhouse). Mark has been a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association for 25 years.



Brennan Pickman-Thoon*
(Cesare Borgia) is honored to be a part of the final Central Works production. Selected credits: Bulrusher, Metamorphoses (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), A Christmas Carol (American Conservatory Theater), Mother of the Maid (Marin Theatre), Annunciation, Home (Word For Word), Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Tempest (SF Shakes), The Gentleman Caller (NCTC), Timon of Athens (Cutting Ball Theater), and Hamlet (Marin Shakes). When not performing, Brennan is a faculty member at American Conservatory Theater and a teaching artist for SFArtsED. He also directs plays and musicals, with recent credits including Legally Blonde (Damato Performance School) and Sweeney Todd (Throckmorton Theater). He is the Resident Director at Damato Performance School. Brennan received the 2026 SFBATCC award for Actor in a Featured Role and the 2019 SFBATCC Award for Actor in a Principal Role. Proud member of AEA. Love to Mom, Dad, J, and E. For more, please visit brennanpickmanthoon.com.

 


Kevin Singer 
(Niccolo Machiavelli) is an actor from Oakland with a love of fried chicken sandwiches. In the 15+ years since he moved to the Bay Area, he has worked with dozens of regional companies, including Magic Theatre, Center Repertory Theatre, and New Conservatory Theatre. Bay Area theatre-goers may have seen him recently as George in Shotgun Players’ production of Sunday in the Park with George or as Ross in their production of Edward Albee’s The Goat. He also played Monty in the regional premiere of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at 42nd Street Moon. Kevin is a board member at Korsa Musical Theater, the Bay Area’s premier musical theater training company. He graduated in 2013 from UC Berkeley, where he was awarded the David and Diana Menn Prize for Outstanding Creative Talent in the Performing Arts. When he’s not engaging in tomfoolery on stage, he works as a consultant for progressive candidates and causes.

 

 Click here  for cast information about Part 2

 

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