Adirondack Shakespeare Announces Summer Staged Reading Series

Summer is here again, and that means Adirondack Shakespeare Company is getting ready for another season of great theatre in the Schroon Lake Region - with a slimmer lineup this year.

Instead of three mainstage repertory productions and a children's show (which has been the company's norm), ADK Shakes is focusing their efforts on touring a new children's show, producing a staged reading of Much Ado About Nothing, and performing a lively collection of scenes, sonnets, and songs adapted from Shakespeare entitled The Course of True Love.

ADK Shakespeare's reduction in programming this season is an important message to the community, says Artistic Director, Tara Bradway. "We've heard from a number of audience members who are disappointed that we aren't presenting any mainstage Shakespeare performances this summer," she states. "We're a little disappointed, too, but it means that we need to work even harder to fund and support that work." The Shakespeare performances are the artistic bread and butter of the company, and without it even the children's programming will not continue. "Of course we are committed to and we love producing high-quality children's theater, but in the end we're not a children's theatre company," says Bradway. "We're a classical repertory company who also happens to produce great theatre for kids." In an effort to garner support for next summer, the Company is launching a Staged Reading Series.

If you want to catch some Shakespeare on Schroon Lake this summer and help to ensure future (and full) performances next summer, then head on over to the Boathouse Theater for ADK Shakes's first title in the new Staged Reading Series, Much Ado About Nothing. The show will feature festival favorites Lesley Berkowitz, probably best known for her wonderful performance as Puck in 2011's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Aaron White who has played with the company since 2010 but most recently appeared as the Player in last season's productions of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Berkowitz and White will star as verbal gladiators, Benedick and Beatrice, and also double up as the goofy constables, Dogberry and Verges. The Company's Artistic and Executive Directors, Tara Bradway and Patrick Siler, take the stage as well alongside some Schroon Lake newcomers, Doug Durlacher, Nat Angstrom, and Matt Castleman who round out the talented cast.

This is a one-night-only event to help raise support for the Company's Fifth Anniversary Season next year. Much Ado performs on Saturday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Boathouse Theater in Schroon Lake. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Any size donation will gain you admission to the reading, and all proceeds go directly to supporting next year's summer programming. If you are interested in helping out with refreshments, please contact Tara Bradway at tara@adkshakes.org. You can also help by spreading the word to friends, family, co-workers, and total strangers. For more information, visit the company's website www.adkshakes.org or their Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/adkshakes, or call 518-326-THOU and leave a message on the answering service.