Shakespeare in Clark Park (SCP), the immensely popular annual outdoor theater event, will return in July to the park’s “Bowl” near 45th and Chester. The company recently announced its new production for the Summer 2016 season and provided some other interesting details. The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy, is set to run July 27 – 31 and will bring together Philadelphia’s finest actors.

The show is directed by Kathryn MacMillan, a Philadelphia-based theater director who has earned a reputation for directing classical and contemporary works with freshness and clarity and shaping great acting ensembles. She has directed over 25 productions in the Philadelphia area and is currently working on the development of a world premiere musical. 

Two years ago, SCP began practicing “radical community engagement,” which incorporates the community into professional productions. With Henry: Your Prince and Mine, community members battled for the throne of England, and in The Winter’s Tale local children helped to tell the story of two broken kingdoms. This year, professional actors will be on-stage alongside a community dance troupe. SCP will also hold auditions for additional dancers from the community to take part in the dance party that will happen during the show. We’ll post more details when they become available.

And if you need a reminder or never heard of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, here is the summary from SCP:

“Cross-dressing, betrayals, outlaws and love abound in Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Valentine wants to see the world. His best friend Proteus wants to stay in Verona with his love, Julia. But, when Proteus’s father orders him to Milan, loyalties are tested in a whirlwind of missed connections, mistaken identities, and miscommunication.”

For more information, visit: www.shakespeareinclarkpark.org