Independent Shakespeare Co. Moves Summer Festival to Griffith Park

The LA Times reports that LA's Independent Shakespeare Co., which has been performing at Hollywood's Barnsdall Art Park, will move to a bigger and better venue this summer when it presents its Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival on the east side of Griffith Park.

At the Barnsdall Art Park, the company had to perform amid lots of noise due to helicopters from neighboring hospitals. Griffith Park will be less noisy and will also be able to hold many more audience members. The company, which performs free outdoor productions of Shakespeare's works, will now be able to accommodate around 700 people for each performance, versus Barnsdall's capacity of 485.

It is estimated last summer, 12,000 people came out to Barnsdall to see the Independent Shakespeare Co. perform. The company's website stated, "Last season, we were playing to capacity at our previous venue in Barnsdall Park. We turned so many people away we knew it was time to seek out a new site for the festival. We found this beautiful spot in Griffith Park-easy to get to, quiet, and able to accommodate more audience members. It's a beautiful spot for everyone and anyone to stretch out and enjoy professional theater in an informal setting."

In exchange for the new venue, ISC will have to pay more money, an estimated $180,000 for actors' pay, equipment, and rent to the Department of Recreation & Parks. Last year, the company spent around $120,000. In order to raise this money, the ISC relies on donations and support from patrons and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and other local organizations.

This season, the ISC will perform OTHELLO from July 9 through August 1 and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING from August 6 through August 29. On June 27, the ISC will co-produce a one-night performance of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the Symphony in the Glen.

For more information about the Independent Shakespeare Co., visit online at www.independentshakespeare.com.