Shakespeare by the Sea opens in Long Beach with ‘Cardenio,’ the Bard’s lost play

Shakespeare by the Sea — the troupe known for bringing the Bard’s plays to open-air audiences for more than two decades — has officially launched its latest season in Long Beach.

The troupe opened its 27th season with a performance of “Cardenio” on Friday, June 21 at the Band Shell at Recreation Park.

“Cardenio” is known as Shakespeare’s unfinished or lost play, likely written in collaboration with John Fletcher, who followed William Shakespeare as house playwright for the Bard’s acting company, the King’s Men in London

SBTS’s Jonathan Fisher and Anna Miles have revivied and adapted “Cardenio”  describing it as “a rollicking and dramatic adventure replete with maids in disguise, dastardly plots and pithy word-play.”

Also on tap for an SBTS summer is “Henry IV: Falstaff and the Boy Who Would Be King.” Again, the dramatists have adapted Shakespeare’s works: “Henry IV, Part I” and “Henry IV, Part 2,” combining the two plays that focus on a young Prince Hal, initially a reluctant hier to the throne who later embraces his destiny. The adaptation was done by Stephanie Coltrin, who with Suzanne Dean is also the co-artistic director of the troupe.

It’s the first time SBTS has opened its season in Long Beach. In prior years, the troupe has opened in San Pedro’s Point Fermin Park, but problems with crime forced the company to move venues this year.

Here’s SBTS full summer schedule:

CARDENIO PERFORMANCE DATES & LOCATIONS

Saturday, June 22 at 8 p.m., Recreation Park, Long Beach

Saturday, July 6, at 7 p.m., Rush Park, Rossmoor

Wednesday, July 10 at 7 p.m., Valley Park, Hermosa Beach

Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m., Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, Wilmington

Saturday, July 13 at 7 p. m.,  Dominguez Park, Redondo Beach

Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m., Polliwog Park, Manhattan Beach

Sunday, July 21 at 7 p.m., Garfield Park, South Pasadena

Saturday, July 27 at 7 p.m., Wilson Park, Torrance

Sunday, July 28 at 7 p.m., Exposition Park, Los Angeles

Friday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m., 22nd Street Park, San Pedro

HENRY IV  PERFORMANCE DATES & LOCATIONS

Friday, June 28 at 8 p.m., Recreation Park, Long Beach

Saturday, June 29 at 8 p.m., Recreation Park, Long Beach

Friday, July 5 at 7 p.m., Rush Park, Rossmoor

Sunday, July 7 at 7 p.m., Hesse Park, Rancho Palos Verdes

Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m., Valley Park, Hermosa Beach

Sunday, July 14 at 7 p.m., Veterans Park, Redondo Beach

Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m., Polliwog Park, Manhattan Beach

Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m., Garfield Park, South Pasadena

Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m., Roxbury Park, Beverly Hills

Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m., Murray Community Center, Mission Viejo

Wednesday, July 31 at 7 p.m., Birch Park, Santa Ana

Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m., Soka University’s Campus Green, Aliso Viejo

Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m., 22nd Street Park, San Pedro

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