From left to right: Jason Lindner as Duke Frederick/Amiens, Tariq Kanu as Orlando, Cheyenne Parks as Rosalind, and Felicity Mundy as Celia (Photo credit: Shamus).

Shakespeare in Clark Park is returning next month with outdoor performances of “As You Like It,” July 24-28 at the Bowl in Clark Park. The production features contemporary and creative innovations, including input from participants in a series of community poetry workshops (see more info below).

A celebration of poetry and community is the focus of this show, directed by Ontaria Kim Wilson. Professional Philadelphia actors take the stage along with community performers, and an original anthem has been created by local composer and community music leader, Pax Ressler. Wilson was born and raised in Philadelphia and lived through the ongoing shifts and displacement of community, a theme that is central to her interpretation of “As You Like It,” which is often simplified to a love story. Wilson’s  experience is essential to  the production, in the bodies we see onstage, and how the lead character, Rosalind, actively hides her identity to survive in a world where she was once celebrated.

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This July 26 through July 30, Shakespeare in Clark Park performs the Bard with a musical twist. With music and lyrics by the creators of Hair, this ground-breaking adaptation of Shakespeare’s play won the Tony Award for best musical in 1971. It’s a fun fusion of memorable songs, romantic comedy, and contemporary social commentary.

The grassy outdoor bowl in Clark Park is a friendly setting to bring your picnic baskets, folding chairs, and blankets for a night of revelry under the stars. Join us for food trucks, a picnic, and an evening you won’t forget.

Tickets are FREE, but registration is encouraged. Register here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/two-gentlemen-of-verona-shakespeare-in-clark-park-tickets-666162900167

Weather Advisory. In the event of inclement weather, a performance may be moved to an indoor venue. Check SCP’s Facebook page for updates.

More info is available at: http://www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org.

From left: Lexi Thammavong as Lucetta, Camille Young as Silvia, and Anthony Crosby as Thurio. (Photo courtesy of SCP)

The popular local theater company returns next week to perform Shakespeare with a musical twist. With music by Galt MacDermot and lyrics by John Guare, this 1971 Tony Award-winning, ground-breaking adaptation of the Bard’s sixteenth-century comedy is a fusion of danceable pop, stirring soul, electrifying rock, creative storytelling, and biting social commentary.

“This summer’s production is more than just entertainment,” said guest artistic director, Shamus. “It’s a powerful response to the rising tide of hate and discrimination against LGBTQ+ and other groups. The message is clear: no one can flourish without self-love. The production also boldly confronts issues of war mongering and the ever-widening wealth gap.”

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Shamus, who directed Shakespeare in Clark Park’s 2023 production of Two Gentlemen Of Verona, is pictured as Malvolio in the 2018 production of Twelfth Night (Photo courtesy of SCP).

Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP) is returning for the 2023 season with a Tony award-winning musical! The popular non-profit organization, which has been presenting professional theatre productions in Clark Park’s “Bowl” since 2006, will present a musical adaptation of Two Gentlemen of Verona for five nights – from July 26 to July 30. Continue Reading

Artwork by Allison Rich

Shakespeare in Clark Park is set to return this week with The Taming!, a “raucous comedy” presented in two “very different” acts. The new production pairs Shakespeare’s problematic masterpiece, The Taming of the Shrew, with a community-created adaptation of John Fletcher’s Elizabethan revenge play, The Tamer Tamed.

The Taming of the Shrew is directed by Kathryn MacMillan while The Tamer Tamed has been adapted by Charlotte Northeast and is directed by Ang Bey.

The creative team of The Taming! is exploring themes of love, patriarchy, and domestic violence, and will contextualize Shakespeare’s original text from a modern viewpoint and from multiple perspectives. The community members who make up the Active Conscious Chorus in the adaptation of The Tamer Tamed will respond to the text. Continue Reading

Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is going head to head with John Fletcher’s revenge play, The Tamer Tamed! Kate and Petruchio battle it out in Act 1, but in Act 2 Maria and Bianca conspire to bring down old Petruchio. SCP is talking back to Shakespeare with a West Philly spin on a problematic classic. Performed nightly at 7pm from Wednesday, July 27th to Sunday, July 31st.

For more information, visit: http://www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org/