This summer, the 2016 Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival is continuing its celebration of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death with numerous theatrical events.
Shakespearean actors of all ages from throughout the Michiana area will take the Washington Hall stage for performances of “ShakeScenes” at 2 p.m. July 16 and July 17. A unique collection of scenes inspired by the works of Shakespeare and performed by community members and area school students, “ShakeScenes” will include performances by members of the Robinson Community Learning Center Shakespeare Company, the Good Shepherd Shakes of the Good Shepherd Montessori School, and the Harter Heights Players. Admission to “ShakeScenes” is free with tickets which may be obtained online here.
The Shakespeare Festival’s exploration of “Shakespeare’s Last Words” will include performances of the final two plays written by the Bard.
From July 17 through August 22, the Festival’s Young Company will perform Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre at outdoor venues throughout Michiana. An epic adventure story which reverberates with issues arising from today’s international refugee crisis, Pericles, according to Kate Pitt of the Shakespeare Festival’s partner Folger Shakespeare Library, “dramatizes the courage and heartbreak of refugees from ancient times to today’s crisis in Europe. The title character flees for his life and travels through cities in Turkey, Libya, and Greece in search of a home for himself and his family.” The 80-minute performances of Pericles are free of charge, and audiences are encouraged to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, family, and friends.
Fourteen performances of Shakespeare’s The Tempest will take place August 16-28 in the Patricia George Decio Theatre of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The playwright’s tale of shipwreck and salvation on Prospero’s enchanted island is directed by West Hyler of the Cirque du Soleil and features professional artists and actors from around the world.
More information, including ticketing and schedules of all of these events is available from the Shakespeare at Notre Dame website.
Originally published at news.nd.edu.
