Nashville Shakes Hosts BARD'S BIRTHDAY BASH Saturday

Nashville Shakespeare Festival will celebrate Shakespeare's birthday and the 400th anniversary of his death this Saturday, April 23, with the Bard's Birthday Bash at the Nashville Public Library Main Branch, located at 615 Church Street.

The free party is part of a global celebration marking the Shakespearean milestone and will take place in the library courtyard from 1 to 4 p.m. As part of the celebration, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival will also stage the seventh annual Biggest Balcony Scene Ever.

"The Biggest Balcony Scene Ever is a chance for anyone who's ever wanted to play Romeo or Juliet to do so. Everyone will get a chance to say the beautiful lines Shakespeare wrote for the lovers, and there's no pressure to perform because everybody speaks together," said Denice Hicks, executive artistic director of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. "We are hoping for 400 participants this year, to honor the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death."

Copies of the edited script will be available at the event and are available for download on the NSF website. During the reading, all of the Romeos will take their places in the library's main lobby, while all of the Juliets will stand above them on the mezzanine, or "balcony." Casual dress is fine but costumes are encouraged, as there will be prizes for categories that include Most Creative, Best Couple and Best Young Shakespearean.

Live music, which starts at 1:45 p.m., will include David Olney presenting a sneak preview of one of the original songs written for this summer's Shakespeare in the Park production of The Comedy of Errors. The winner from the English Speaking Union's first American "Singing Shakespeare" competition, Kate Pierson, will also perform.

"We will also have an open mic set up for Shakespeare Karaoke, a chance for anybody who is interested to step up and recite some Shakespeare, whether from memory or from a script," said Hicks.

"Of course, William Shakespeare will be in attendance for the celebration and will happily pose for photos."

Snacks, soft drinks and cupcakes will be available on a first come, first served basis. In case of rain, the birthday party will move inside to the conference center on the first floor. For more information, visit www.nashvilleshakes.org, or call (615) 255-2273.

About The Nashville Shakespeare Festival Founded in 1988, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival educates and entertains the Mid-South community through high-quality Shakespearean experiences. The company is one of the region's leading professional theatres and since its inception, more than 460,000 Tennesseans have experienced the arts through one of their programs, which include Shakespeare in the Park, Winter Shakespeare, Shakespeare in Action and other educational initiatives. For more information or to attend a show, visit www.nashvilleshakes.org or call (615) 255-2273.