Shakespeare on the Lawn
OUR final MAINSTAGE SHOW OF THE SEASON IS OUR Shakespeare:
rise to the occasion of your text!
What began as a pandemic-era adjustment has become a beloved staple of our season, the now-annual tradition of mounting Shakespeare’s work on our outdoor stage. Cast members will learn to analyze classic text, relating the stories to their present-day experiences, and discovering how accessible these works can truly be. The Shakespeare audition process is open to performers of all ages, although those who audition are not guaranteed a role.
Duke Senior has been exiled to the Forest of Arden, usurped by is younger brother Duke Frederick. Rosalind, daughter of Duke Senior and niece of Duke Frederick, stays behind due to her closeness with Celia, daughter of Duke Frederick and niece of Duke Senior. Just as Rosalind falls in love with a young man named Orlando, she is also banished when Duke Frederick grows paranoid that she will seek revenge for her father’s exile. Rosalind and Celia decide to run away before they are separated; Rosalind disguises herself as a shepherd named Ganymede, with Celia in tow as a shepherdess named Aliena. As the characters make their way through the Forest of Arden, misunderstandings and mistaken identities create all the chaos expected in a Shakespearean comedy.