SCSF Presents Re-imagined Version of Shakespeare’s As You Like It

03 May 2016 2 Comments

by Shakespeare in LA in Inland Empire Tags: ,

As You LIke It

Director Stephanie Courtney puts a fresh spin on Shakespeare’s As You Like It for the Southern California Shakespeare Festival beginning September 8. French Court now becomes a private estate and the Forest of Arden a desert that surrounds it, where sibling rivalry boils over into treachery. Those banished by jealous relatives to the treacherous wasteland must discover a new way of life, explore new identities, and find the freedom to pursue love and a utopian existence among the quirky and charming native inhabitants of a strange and wonderful landscape.

The cast includes Natalie Roy Wilson as Rosalind, Sam Robinson as Jacques, Marissa Pitts as Celia, Andrew Wilson as Touchstone, and Linda Bisesti as Adam, with students and alumni from the Department of Theatre and New Dance at Cal Poly Pomona completing the ensemble.

Festival personnel also includes: Linda Bisesti (festival artistic director), Gaby Robles (set design and costume design), Clayton Fournival (lighting design), Gerard Marquez (sound design), Jackie Gill (properties), Kristy Priest (stage manager), and Joanna Lopez & Bianca Leanos (assistant stage managers). Marie Maslowski is the festival production manager and box office coordinator along with Spencer Saccoman/assistant festival production manager for SCSF.

Stephanie Courtney is a graduate of the prestigious Trinity Rep program with an M.F.A in Directing, and a B.A. in Theatre from CSULB. She is currently Producer/Artistic Director at Fortune’s Fool Productions in Dublin, Ireland and teaches at PCPA.

AS YOU LIKE IT
September 8 – October 9, 2016
Cal Poly Pomona, Studio Theatre
3801 W. Temple Ave., Building 25, Pomona, CA 91768
A gala reception follows the Saturday, September 24th performance.
Tickets go on sale June 3: (909) 869-3987 or 909-869-3900, or online at http://classcsupomona.tix.com
For more information: www.cpp.edu/~scsf/

Special added performances will take place Saturday Sept. 10 at 7pm. and Sunday Sept. 11 at 2pm at The School of Arts and Enterprise, 295 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91767. Tickets are available at www.saetix.com, and Friday, Sept. 16 & 17 at 7pm at the Mayfield Senior School, 500 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, CA 91105.

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Southern California Shakespeare Festival Presents MACBETH

03 Aug 2015 1 Comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Pomona Tags: ,

macbethSouthern California Shakespeare Festival will present Macbeth September 5 – October 4 in Cal Poly Pomona’s Studio Theatre. Shakespeare’s classic drama depicts a tale of better ideals overwhelmed by misguided ambition, and the runaway exercise of unchecked imperial power leading to extravagant bloodshed and then, revolution. The play remains popular because it resonates with 21st Century audiences. It will be costumed in modern dress, not tying it to any specific time period in a bid to universalize the action.

The production is directed by guest director David Fox who offers his thoughts about the play. “This is a war-weary society. The trauma of constant battle and death has taken an emotional toll on men, women, and children. The moral compass is broken. People are not thinking clearly. Suspicion and desperation permeate the air. Everyone is vulnerable to temptation, the solicitations of the subconscious and/or supernatural.”  More

Cast Announced for Cal Poly Pomona’s JULIUS CAESAR Starring Linda Bisesti

12 May 2014 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Pomona Tags: ,

Julius Caesar Cal Poly Pomona
Southern California Shakespeare Festival has announced that it will present Julius Caesar Sept.13 – Oct. 5 at Cal Poly Pomona, directed by Josh Machamer. In this tenth anniversary production, the eponymous character will be played by the Festival’s artistic director, Linda Bisesti. Gender-bending in the casting is not new for the Festival; Lisa Wolpe portrayed Richard III in 2011. The Festival has consistently practiced non-traditional casting, and a number of the roles in the 2014 production have been cast without limitation by race nor gender.

Julius Caesar relates the fall of the Roman dictator of the title, murdered by conspirators before he can become absolute monarch of the Roman Empire by public acclamation. Only one of the assassins, Caesar’s beloved friend Brutus, acts in what he truly believes are the best interests of the Roman Republic.  More

Expanded Performances at the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival

10 Jan 2014 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Santa Clarita Tags: ,

SCSF logo

Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is extending an open invitation to music and theatre performing groups to participate in the LA SummerFest at Rivendale. Last year, in addition to the free Shakespeare in the Park performances, the festival hosted free jazz concerts by Sparetime and the SCV Concert Band, and a production of the musical Hair, presented in cooperation with theTRIBE productions. They are currently looking to bring an expanded concert series, including musical theatre performances, and special events, to this year’s summer festival. If you are interested in performing with your group or production this summer, please email info@lasummerfest.org.

SAVE THE DATE – July 11, 2014 for the Opening Preview and Gala, Dinner, Wine & Shakespeare, a special event in support of the free LA SummerFest at Rivendale. For more information go to www.scshakespearefest.org.

During the months of February and March, SCSF will also be touring local high schools with their production of Romeo & Juliet, bringing the play to life for 9th graders studying the piece. To make a donation for this program or for more information about the school tour, visit SCSF’s website.

Southern CA Shakespeare Festival presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream

03 Sep 2013 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Pomona Tags: ,

Midsummer - Cal Poly Pomona

Southern California Shakespeare Festival, a professional company located on the campus of Cal Poly Pomona, presents Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, September 7 – 29. The play is an audience favorite, full of love and romance, comedy and laughter, magical creatures and mystical spells.

According to director Sam Robinson, “The approach is traditional with the setting in Ancient Greece, and includes touches of the classic culture of India and the ever-playful magical fairy world. Shakespeare was a master of weaving the present day into his plays, so we will incorporate both Elizabethan England and current modern day references. Shakespeare’s productions included only male actors, so there was a lot of build in humor with regard to the opposite sex playing the roles. We are honoring Shakespeare by casting some of the main male roles with female performers, including Oberon, King of the Fairies and Demetrius and Lysander, who are both vying for Hermia’s affection.”

The cast features Equity Guest Artists Annie Dennis, Marissa Pitts and Lena Solano, with Luis Arrendondo, Vanessa Babida, Job Barnett, Catherine Campbell, William Dinwiddie, Adriana Flores, Amy Hatfield, Andrea Lopez, Valerie Lopez, Andy Nguo, Tiana Parker, Dylan Parra, Ruben Serrano, Paula Solano and Alicia Joy Volinkski. Linda Bisesti is SCSF’s artistic director and the Festival production manager is Marie Maslowski.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
September 7 – 29, 2013
(Gala reception follows Saturday, September 7 performance.)
Studio Theatre, 3801 W. Temple Avenue, Building 25, Pomona, CA 91768.
(On the campus of Cal Poly Pomona)
Tickets: (909) 869-3800  http://classcsupomona.tix.com

SCSF Keeps Romeo and Juliet ALIVE in our schools

25 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Santa Clarita Tags: ,

SCSF logo

Two young people, meeting and romancing against the will of their parents, believe their love and passion is so great, they make secret plans and impetuous choices that result in tragedy. Sounds like a story pulled from today’s headlines or an entertainment newscast – but this story is more that 400 years old – William Shakespeare’s tale, Romeo and Juliet.

The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival will be touring local high schools this spring with a presentation of Romeo and Juliet for ninth grade students, most of whom will be studying the play. The presentation uses just five actors and fits into a class period with time for questions and answers afterwards.  More

Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival Receives Grant

31 May 2012 Leave a comment

by Shakespeare in LA in Santa Clarita Tags: , ,

Congratulations to The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival on receiving a grant from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. The grant is in support of their free and educational programs, including the free Shakespeare in the Park, the free High School Apprentice Summer Program, and an annual tour of Romeo & Juliet for local 9th grade students. The matching grant challenges SCSF to raise matching funds. If their fund raising goal is not matched, the festival does not receive the grant.  More

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