Are You Ready to Get Merry on the Prairie?
FLATWATER
SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS “THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR”
JUNE
8 to JULY 2 AT THE SWAN THEATRE AND ON TOUR
The
Flatwater Shakespeare Company's The Merry Wives of Windsor,
an official event of the Nebraska State Sequicentennial, brings
together the Bard and Homestead Settlers. Directed by Becky Boesen,
the production invites
audiences to get “merry on the prairie.” The show kicks off at
the Swan Theatre at Wyuka Stables with a first weekend of paid
performances (all tickets $10), June 8-11. The show then tours
throughout and beyond Lincoln, with two weekends of FREE
performances, June 14-19 and 21-25. All performances start at 7 p.m.,
with the exception of the June 24 show at Pioneers Park Nature
Center, which will begin at 2 p.m.
For
six years, the FSC tour has staged free, high-quality Shakespeare
productions at local parks and other outdoor locations throughout the
City of Lincoln and surrounding areas. This year, in honor of the
Nebraska 150 celebration, Executive Artistic Director Becky Boesen
will set the Bard’s beloved comedy on the Great Plains in 1867, the
year Nebraska achieved statehood. Audiences can expect rollicking fun
and belly laughs in a show geared towards audiences of all ages. “The
women in this play, the Merry Wives themselves, are the primary
movers of the comedy,” says Boesen. “There is something about
their independent drive that parallels the spirit of the intrepid
American settler – especially the female variety.” Along with the
special afternoon performance at the one-room schoolhouse adjacent to
the Pioneers Park Nature Center on June 24, the production also
visits Homestead National Monument, Beatrice, on July 2. Each
performance starts with pre-show music from noted local
singer-songwriters Ozark Hutch and Orion Walsh.
Some
who came to the new state found that times can be rough out on the
prairie. Low on funds but with his appetites and waistline as large
as ever, lovable scoundrel Jack Falstaff has hit on a new scheme.
Settling in the town of Windsor, Nebraska, he intends to seduce the
wives of two leading citizens and thereby have access to their
husbands’ finances. But Alice Ford and Meg Page find out that
Falstaff has written identical “love” letters to them both. Their
husbands, Frank Ford and George Page, are warned of Falstaff’s
plan. The results involve disguises, bribes, dirty laundry, insane
jealousy, a plunge into the Platte River, a befuddled Welsh parson, a
wacky French physician, and much ado about horns.
The
production features Meganne Horrocks Storm and Allison Baird as Alice
Ford and Meg Page, the Merry Wives, and Brad Boesen as Jack Falstaff.
Tyler Hale is the jealous Frank Ford and Matthew Bejjani plays George
Page. Juanita Pat Rice, a member of Actors' Equity Association who
previously appeared in Flatwater Shakespeare's Richard
III,
portrays Mistress Quickly. “Having Juanita in this ensemble
elevates everything that we do,” observes Director Boesen. “We
are pleased at Flatwater Shakespeare to continue our tradition of
hiring union actors and we hope to increase our ability to invite AEA
actors frequently to our team.” Other performers include past
Flatwater Shakespeare associates Meghan Arenz (who moves from our
youth program to the mainstage), Mikey Barth, Sara Broad, Sasha
Dobson, Ian McKercher, Scott Shomaker, and Rich Sibley. Joining the
Company for this show are Breanna Carodine, Josephine Dobson, Amanda
Fogerty, Katie Hoppe, Tyler Rambali, and Reed Westerhoff.
Costumes
are by Julie Douglass, with set and technical design by Patrick
Lambrecht and props by Alexa Kirchgasler Spale. The Fight Director is
Reed Westerhoff and the Movement Coach is Amanda Fogerty. Sasha Dobson is Assistant Director and Vocal Coach.
Stephen Buhler is Dramaturg and Tim Scholl the Creative Consultant.
Stage Manager and Tour Manager is Michelle Zinke, assisted by Petra
Wahlqvist.
Shakespeare
is for everyone!
For
tickets at the Swan Theatre and for more information about Flatwater
Shakespeare, visit www.flatwatershakespearecompany.org.
LIST
OF LOCATIONS:
Thurs.–Sun., June 8–11 Swan
Theatre at Wyuka Stables, 3600 O Street
($10 admission this location only)
Thurs.,
June 15 Henry Park, S. 44th
and Prescott
Fri.,
June 16 Cooper Park, S. 6th
and D
Sat.,
June 17 Holmes Park, Holmes North Shore Road and Normal Boulevard
Sun.,
June 18 Trago Park, N. 22nd
and U
Wed.
June 21 Lincoln Community Foundation Garden, Centennial Mall and N
Thurs.,
June 22 Bethany Park, N. 65th
and Vine
Fri.,
June 23 James Arthur Vineyards, 2001 W. Raymond Road
Sat.,
June 24 Pioneers Park Nature Center, 3201 S. Coddington (2 p.m.)
Sun.,
June 25 Havelock Park, N. 64th
and Ballard
Sat.,
July 1 Homestead National Monument, 8523 W. State Highway 4,
Beatrice
Sun.,
July 2 The Railyard, Canopy Street between Q and P Streets
posted by Flatwater Shakespeare | 5:23 PM
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