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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