AS YOU LIKE IT Announced at The Hilberry Theatre

William Shakespeare's As You Like It treads the boards at the Hilberry Theatre beginning Friday, Oct.26 and running through Nov. 11. Directed by Lavinia Hart and set in present day Appalachia, this hilariously subversive comedy allows audiences to view this classic story through a creative lens that transports you to the hills of Tennessee.

The story follows Rosalind as she flees persecution in her uncle's court. Accompanied by her cousin Celia, these women must find a way to safely pass through the Forest of Arden where they meet a motley crew of some of Shakespeare's most-celebrated characters. Audiences will recognize this memorable play by the notably melancholy character Jacques who was first to speak many of Shakespeare's most famous lines like "All the world's a stage," "Too much of a good thing" and "A fool! A fool! I met a fool in the forest."

"Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' is universal in theme and characters, easily translating to any century in any city or countryside, revealing surprising cultural connections to the here and now," says director Lavinia Hart. "It entices us to see what happens if women take on the roles of male characters. It reveals timeless issues with epic romantic lovers, lovers at first sight, never-give-up lovers, narcissistic jealous haters that punishes human difference, melancholic and satirical philosophers, and those necessary humans we all know who are in touch with the underlying spirit in all our natures. The ones who know about what ultimately unites us."

"As You Like It" is produced by the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a program in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University. Tickets are available for purchase online by visiting theatreanddanceatwayne.com, by calling the Theatre and Dance at Wayne Box Office at (313) 577-2972, or by visiting the box office at 4743 Cass Avenue at the corner of Hancock Street. A convenience fee of $2 per ticket is automatically added to your ticket when purchasing online.

About the Wayne State University

Wayne State University is one of the nation's preeminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://research.wayne.edu/.