Long Beach Playhouse to Present Shakespeare in the Park

Long Beach Playhouse (LBP) joins forces with the East Anaheim Street Business Alliance (EASBA) to provide a free Shakespeare in the Park event for the Zaferia community. Sponsored by the business owners of Zaferia, LBP will be mounting a streamlined version of William Shakespeare's immortal play about love, magic, and what happens when the two meet, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Directed by LBP executive and producing artistic director, Andrew Vonderschmitt the adaptation by LBP friend, PatRick Williams, promises to entertain and delight in the Recreation Park Band Shell setting. Attendees can bring picnics, and enjoy an early evening of theatre with their fellow community members.

"I am so excited to be able to do theatre that is free to the public," said Vonderschmitt, "I truly believe that access to art should not be economically forbidding." LBP has made recent strides toward better access to theatre with a ticket price drop from $24 to $20 on Friday night Preferences.

"The East Anaheim Street Business Alliance Board of Directors and I are very excited about this summertime program," said Kristine Hammond, EASBA executive director, "It is a great opportunity to give back to the community while introducing the new Zaferia logo and brand. The goal with the Shakespeare event is to not only provide family-friendly entertainment to Long Beach residents, but to also inform them of the businesses in Zaferia that are making this happen."

As is the case with many LBP productions the cast is a mix of returning and new to The Playhouse actors. The thirteen person cast includes new comers: Kawika Aguilar, Julian Bremer, Deborah Carmichael, Westley Dugan, Jordan Kay, Grant Lewis, Sabrina Nuno, Courtney Riel Owens, Rudy Perez, Sheila Silver.

Returning actors include: Colton Dillion [Marat/Sade], Cody Aaron Hanify [Shakespeare's R&J], Elizabeth Waite [Marat/Sade], Stephanie Keith, Paige Laney, Meredith Miranda, and Lauren Velasco, [all from Lysistrata]

The event takes place at recreation Park's band Shell at 4900 E. 7th Street on Saturday and Sunday, July 23 & 24 at 6pm. The event is free and open to the public. The community is encouraged to bring their own picnics.

Long Beach Playhouse is located at 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. The Playhouse is community-supported theatre with programs and events that cut across age, gender, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. For more information visit the website: www.lbplayhouse,org

For more information on EASBA: www.zaferia.org.