Welcome to Shakespeare in the Park 2013
We're pleased to invite you to William Shakespeare's romantic comedy
AS YOU LIKE IT
AS YOU LIKE IT will be presented free of charge on
July 12, 13, 14, 2013
July 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2013
Special invitation only media preview night July 11, 2013
Curtain is at 8:00 pm nightly. Access to the open-air terraced seating area will begin at approximately 7:00 pm.
No Reservations or Tickets Required
AS YOU LIKE IT is presented free of charge and seating is first come, first served. You're welcome to come early, picnic and enjoy the park and the view. When the seating area opens at approximately 7:00 pm, you will be able to stake out your seating area. Ushers will be on hand to guide and help you.
We estimate that we will be able to seat at least 150 and 170 people within the terraced seating. Grass seating adjacent to the terraces will also be open for viewing the play.
(Speaking of ushers! If you're interested in a guaranteed seat to see AS YOU LIKE IT, email the show's Director to volunteer your services as an usher.)
Thanks to a successfully met challenge grant from BMO Harris Bank, Optimist Theatre will present William Shakespeare's comedy AS YOU LIKE IT
About the Play
AS YOU LIKE IT follows its heroine Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court, accompanied by her cousin Celia and Touchstone the court jester, to find safety and love in the Forest of Arden. The play features one of Shakespeare's most famous and oft-quoted speeches, "All the world's a stage."
Mr. Tom Reed*, recently seen in the title role in Optimist’s 2012 MACBETH, will direct. Mr. Todd Denning*, who played Malvolio in Optimist’s 2011 TWELFTH NIGHT, will be playing the role of Touchstone.
Tom is the Associate Artistic Director for Optimist Theatre and Producer for Shakespeare in the Park and serves on the faculty of the Theater and Dance Department at Alverno College.
Performances will run about 2 hours plus a 15 minute intermission.
Our Hosts
The COA (Children’s Outing Association), one of Milwaukee’s most venerable community youth organizations, has offered Optimist Theatre the opportunity to be the inaugural theatre company for their brand new amphitheater and performance space in Alice Bertschy Kadish Park. The amphitheater will debut this summer and we have accepted with pleasure.
Where
Performances will be held at Alice Bertschy Kadish Park in Milwaukee. Kadish Park does not have an actual street address, however it's located adjacent to the COA Youth and Family Center at 909 E. North Avenue. There's plenty of free street parking surrounding Kadish Park along E. Garfield Avenue, N. Commerce St., the east end of E. Reservoir Ave., and the south end of N. Booth St
Kadish Park is a great location.
· It’s at a crossroads where four neighborhoods meet
· The amphitheater overlooks the beautiful Milwaukee city skyline
· There is ample, free street parking
· It boasts an open, sizeable, terraced seating area for our growing audiences. Translation: No seating reservations required! Simply show up, enjoy the public park (picnic, anyone?) and stake out some space in the seating area when the ‘house’ opens up before each performance. More details on how this works will be available on the Optimist Theatre blog as we get closer to the performance dates.
*Members of Actors Equity Association
Come Early and Join the Fun!
During the play, the characters Rosalind and Orlando leave each other love messages in the trees of the Forest of Arden. You're invited to leave your own message in the trees of Kadish Park. Optimist Theatre will provide notes and ribbons. You're welcome to leave any message you like. What will you write?
· An anonymous love note
· Thoughts about Shakespeare in the Park
· How much you love your children, your dog, cat, favorite ice cream, etc
· Favorite memories
· Or anything meaningful, silly, or hopeful that strikes you.
All for fun and fun for all.
Shakespeare in the Park is made possible in part through the generous support of BMO Harris Bank, the Milwaukee Arts Board, the Wisconsin Arts Board and the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Association of University Women, Baird Foundation, Alverno College, and the hundreds of generous donors who gave $1 to $1,000.
Thank you.
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