Episode #229 - Shakespeare Al Fresco

Summer theatre in NYC always includes lots of free outdoor productions, usually of the plays of Shakespeare.  Since this season is no different, nytheatrecast invited four companies who have varied productions of the works of the Bard in different locales.  What they have in common is that they are free, they are in the park (or in one case, the park(ing) lot) and all are sure to be professionally done.

Present for this roundtable discussion with Martin Denton are: David Fuller who will be directing Pericles for Hudson Warehouse at the North Patio of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park; Rohana Elias-Reyes, director of PLG Arts’ production Daydream (Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted specifically for children) which can be found at Prospect Park’s Imagination Playground in Brooklyn; the Drilling Company’s Tom Demenkoff talking about their productions of Twelfth Night and Henry V at the Park(ing) Lot on the Lower East Side; and Matt Johnston, director of As You Like It for Boomerang’s production in Central Park.

Martin began by asking each to give a short introduction to their production, its location, and other pertinent details. This was followed by a lively discussion of such topics as “what’s different about directing outdoor Shakespeare”, “why Shakespeare and not some other classic play?”, “what’s the difference between producing during the day vs. nighttime”?  Listeners will also hear about the audience and its impact on outdoor theatre and there’s even an exchange of ‘horror tales’ that have occured with outdoor producing.

This is an informative and fun episode.  The main thing to learn is that this is possibly the most accessible theatre for everyone, as satisfying for novice theatre goers as it is for those well versed in classic theatre. And it is FREE and probably happening somewhere this summer at a park close to home.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Classic Plays and Musicals, Directors, Roundtable Discussions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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