The Tempest & As You Like It Performed Outdoors in July

A summer New York institution, "Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot," where performers present works by the Bard free of charge, while competing with the various sounds of the city, will return this July with two of Bard's most popular works, The Tempest and As You Like It.

The shows will be presented by TheDrillingCompanyNY, which has been co-producing this Lower East Side Shakespeare experience with Ludlow Ten since 2001. The two shows will be performed at the Municipal Parking Lot, right across from 85 Ludlow Street (cross streets Broome & Delancey Streets).

"We're delighted to have this opportunity to help continue a New York tradition," said DrillingCompaNY artistic director Hamilton Clancy.  Originally helmed by Expanded Arts, since 2001 Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot has been presented by Ludlow Ten who has invited TheDrillingCompaNY to co-produce the productions for the last four years). "We've been fortunate to have the guidance of Leonard McKenzie, the former Artistic Director of Ludlow Ten, who has kept the series going," said Clancy.

Directed by Kathy Curtiss, The Tempest will be performed from July 6th – July 22nd.  "One of the last plays Shakespeare wrote, The Tempest tells the story of Prospero, an exiled Duke of Milan, who has a chance for revenge when a ship carrying his foes passes near his isle of exile.  Considered a Romantic work, the play includes elements of both vengeance and forgiveness – along with some stellar special effects.  As You Like It (directed by  Jesus Ontivieros and running from July 27th to August 12th) is "one of Shakespeare's most-loved comedies and presents us with two sets of feuding brothers, cross-dressing and Rosalind – one of the most popular female characters the Bard ever created)."  Both shows will be performed from Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm.

More information on the Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot productions (including a cast list and detailed ticketing information) will be released in the coming weeks.

TheDrillingCompaNY began their association with Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot in 2001 with The Merry Wives of Windsor and continuing in 2002 with Two Gentlemen of Verona, Hamlet in 2004 and The Taming of the Shrew in 2005.  In 2004 TDC co-produced 2G:Two Gentlemen of Verona with the Shakespeare Project's Play Outside Festival.  Known for its short play projects on common themes, TheDrillingCompaNY, will next present Security– "an evening dealing with issues of Security; the lack of it, who needs it and how much is too much of it," running from June 9 - June 25th at the 78th Street Theatre Lab – located at 236 West 78th Street – their home base for the last six years.