The Red Bull Theater

The Red Bull Theater is a stage company in New York which specializes in heightened language plays, in particular the Jacobean plays by William Shakespeare and his contemporary colleagues, such as Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Middleton, John Webster, Thomas Heywood, Francis Beaumont, Ben Johnson, John Fletcher William Rowley, Thomas Dekker, John Ford and others that thrived between the Reformation and that 1642 theater closure. Also known as English Renaissance theatre, or early modern English theatre, Jacobean plays were represented in venues like Blackfriars Theatre, Newington Butts, The Curtain, The Fortune, The Globe, The Hope, The Rose, The Swan, and the original Red Bull, form which the American company adopted the name.

The Red Bull in London was active for over four decades during the 17th century. After the closure it continued to operate illegally, and after the Restoration it resumed its legal status. It was burned in the Great Fire of London and was one of the last Renaissance theatres to fall. The Red Bull was used by Queen Anne's Men company from 1607 to 1607, after which it was replaced by Prince Charles' Men. Much like its namesake, the Red Bull New York stages classical theater productions such as The Revenger's Tragedy, Pericles, Women Beware Women, Edward II, and The Witch of Edmonton.

They also plan to organize future representations of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Don Carlos, A Woman Killed with Kindness, The Maid's Tragedy, and The Tempest. There is no need to point out that this type of theatre is not for the masses, and thus the Red Bull accepts donations in order to keep bringing quality theatre to selective audiences. They will receive both individual donations and corporate matching contributions. As far as the latter is concerned, Red Bull Theater currently receives matching gifts from GE Foundation (where people buy home appliances), Morgan Stanley (the investment bank), and the Pfizer Matching Fund (where people buy Viagra). The economic support provided by these powerful corporations is of the utmost importance, since the theater does not have the capability of funding its own operations, and basically would disappear if it weren't for the generosity of third party benefactors.