Shakespeare back in the park

The River Market and The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau are pleased to announce their second seasonal showing of “Shakespeare in the Park”, a production of a special version of the Bard’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, on Sunday, June 23rd in the East Pavilion of Ottenheimer Market Hall, home to the Farmers’ Market.

Produced and performed by Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s professional summer company, this production was adapted specifically for families and those less familiar with Shakespeare to enjoy together.

At just an hour in length, Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s production of one of the most beloved of Shakespeare’s works to life, and showcases the very best of his play in a way that is enjoyable and engaging for a variety of audiences and ages. It is the perfect way for parents to introduce their children to Shakespeare, or for adults who may not be very familiar with his work, to experience one of the most extraordinary playwrights of all time in a comfortable and fun setting. “Our goal is to get people of all ages excited about Shakespeare. We use Shakespeare’s original language, but really focus on storytelling. This version of A Midsummer Night's Dream gets rid of the boring lovers and focuses on the fun parts--the bumbling wannabe actors and the fantastical fairies. It also makes use of a variety of arts to tell the story, including puppets, clowning, and song," says Rebekah Scallett, Producing Artistic Director, Arkansas Shakespeare Theater.

“We are very excited to bring another year of “Shakespeare in the Park” to The River Market. What’s great about this production

is that we’re able bring our community such a wonderful entertainment value in this event – the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre has been written about by the New York Times. Our hope is that we can continue to bring rich cultural experiences to the River Market that are appealing and affordable to all,” Diana Long, Director of River Market Operations.

Who: Presented by The River Market and The Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau

What: An accessible, condensed version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the Arkansas

Shakespeare Theatre, featuring AST’s professional summer company.

Where: East Pavilion of Ottenheimer Market Hall in the River Market, 400 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201

When: Sunday, June 23rd at 6p.m. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under. Seating will be provided. Tickets are only available “at the door,” and NOT in advance.

Why: Incredible opportunity for both Shakespeare enthusiasts and novices of all ages to enjoy a delightful evening of “Shakespeare in the Park.”

For additional questions regarding this production, please contact Diana Long, Director of River Market Operations, at 501-320-3503, or via e-mail at dlong@littlerock.com.

About A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play by William Shakespeare. It is believed that it was written between 1590 and 1596. It

portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors, who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play, categorized as a Comedy, is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

About Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre:

The mission of AST is to entertain, engage, and enrich the community by creating professional and accessible productions of Shakespeare and other works that promote educational opportunities, community involvement, and the highest artistic standards. In pursuing this mission, we seek to be a source of pride and an invaluable resource to our University, our community, and to greater central Arkansas.