Make plans to enjoy two nights of William Shakespeare's greatest plays. "Macbeth" and "The Taming of the Shrew" performed by the American Shakespeare Center 2017/18 Wicked Folly Tour at Historic Washington State Park March 2 and March 3. Performed in the unique the way audiences would have enjoyed these plays during Shakespearean time.

According to a press release, the performances will begin at 7:30PM with a pre-show performance at 7PM in the 1940 WPA Gym. Doors open at 7PM. On Friday, March 2, the historic tragedy Macbeth will be performed. On Saturday, March 3, the romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew will be performed.

There will be four afternoon workshops on Saturday, March 3, led by the American Shakespeare Troupe, will be provided covering topics of how to perform Shakespeare on the modern stage. They are:

- Shakespeare and Rap at 11AM.
- Audience Contact in Shakespeare at 1PM.
- Shakespeare and Special Effects at 2:30PM.
- Cue Scripts and Shakespeare at 4PM.

Workshop admission is $5 per person for ages 14 and older.

The American Shakespeare Center brings a unique performance style, blending Shakespeare’s stage craft with modern sensibility. The company uses Shakespeare’s staging conditions including universal lighting, minimal sets, doubling, cross-gender casting, and music. In Shakespeare’s day, the company couldn’t turn the lights out on the audience; actors and audience shared the same light. Leaving the lights on allows for a type of audience contact rarely seen in modern day theatre. Audience members share directly in the action onstage as they become part of play in Macbeth, and The Taming of the Shrew.

Annabelle Rollison as Kate and Ronald Román-Meléndez as Petruchio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Photo by Michael Bailey.
Annabelle Rollison as Kate and Ronald Román-Meléndez as Petruchio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Photo by Michael Bailey.
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Since 1988, the American Shakespeare Center has toured the country with shows incorporating Shakespeare’s staging conditions. Based out of Staunton, VA, the company mission is to recover the joys and accessibility of Shakespeare’s theatre, language, and humanity by exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education. The organization can be found online at www.americanshakespearecenter.com.

Tickets for the performances are $10 adult and $5 for children ages 6-12. Call (870) 983-2684 to reserve tickets. Tickets may be picked up at the 1874 Courthouse Visitor Center. Event doors open at 7PM. Williams Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11AM till 7PM before the performance begins.

Historic Washington State Park, a restoration village preserving one of Arkansas’ most prominent 19th century towns, is located on US 278 nine miles north of Hope and can be reached by taking Exit 30 off Interstate 30. For more information visit www.HistoricWashingtonStatePark.com or call (870)983-2684.

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