Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre
Each year the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre produces a selection of the Bard’s plays, along with other productions, in its summer festival in Conway. Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, which has been featured in the New York Times, is also a major educational force in Arkansas, providing performance and production opportunities for central Arkansas school children and and college students at the University of Central Arkansas.
This professional company brings respected and experienced Shakespearean actors to Arkansas for each season, producing vibrant, engaging, lively and provocative performances for all Arkansans.
The 2012 Season
Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare
directed by Rebekah Scallet
“What country, friends, is this?”
After a tragic shipwreck, Viola washes up on shore on the unknown island of Illyria. Believing her brother to be lost, she disguises herself as a boy in order to seek shelter as a servant to the Duke Orsino. Her plans quickly go awry, however, when she falls in love with the Duke, who is already in love with the Countess Olivia, who falls in love with Viola, whom she thinks is a boy. Mistaken identities, missed signals, and mischievous mayhem abound in one of the Bard’s most romantic and delightful comedies.
Presented on the green at The Village at Hendrix and at Wildwood Park for the Arts
Playing June 7, 9, 10, 15, 17, at 7:30 PM on the green at The Village at Hendrix
Playing June 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 PM at Wildwood Park for the Arts
Big River
Music and Lyrics by Roger Miller
Book by William Hauptman
directed by Michael Susko
“Look out for me, oh muddy water!”
Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brought to life to the strains of the banjo, fiddle, and harmonica in this Tony Award-winning musical. Huck escapes home and all attempts to “civilize” him and hits the mighty Mississippi with the runaway slave Jim. That great river takes the two of them on adventures they didn’t imagine and brings them to places as exotic and far away as Arkansas. This delightful and tuneful adventure story won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score.
Presented at Reynolds Performance Hall
Playing June 8, 14, 27, 29, 30 at 7:30 PM at Reynolds Performance Hall
Playing June 10, 17, 23, 24 at 1:00 PM at Reynolds Performance Hall
Richard III
by William Shakespeare
directed by Robert Quinlan
“Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York.”
In this powerful and surprisingly relevant drama we meet the ambitious and crippled Richard, Duke of Gloucester. At the conclusion of the War of the Roses, Richard jealously watches as his brother is crowned King of England, and swears he will take the throne for himself. In Shakespeare’s take on the deformed despot’s bloody history, the audience becomes Richard’s conspirators as he seduces and murders his way to the top, and is forced to confront the consequences of his corruptions.
Presented at Reynolds Performance Hall
Playing June 16, 20, 21, 28 at 7:30 PM at Reynolds Performance Hall
Playing July 1 at 1:00 PM at Reynolds Performance Hall
The Tempest
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Josh Rice
Miranda has grown up on a faraway island full of magic, alone with her father Prospero. They live in relative peace, until one day fate brings Prospero’s enemies near their shore, and he raises a furious tempest to seek his revenge. This 45-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s fantastical tale is specifically directed for young audiences.
Presented at Reynolds Performance Hall
Playing June 20, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 10:00 AM at Reynolds Performance Hall
For more information or to purchases tickets please visit http://arkshakes.com/