SOC to Present VENUS AND ADONIS, 8/10 & 11

SOC will stage William Shakespeare's 'VENUS AND ADONIS' for two performances only - at the Festival Amphitheatre (August 10-11). 'RICHARD III' continues to play through August 4.

Returning from the recent 2012 Praha Fringe Festival in the Czech Republic, Shakespeare Orange County company members will present William Shakespeare's lyrically romantic and erotic poem, 'VENUS AND ADONIS,' August 10 & 11 at Garden Grove's open air Festival Amphitheatre – outside and "Under the Stars." Featured in the Shakespeare Orange County production are Evelyn Carol Case as Venus and Michael Drace Fountain as Adonis, with Amanda Zarr, Misha Bouvion, Alyssa Bradac and Michael Nehring as part of The Ensemble Company. The work is adapted, produced and directed by Thomas F. Bradac.

According to Bradac, "Going to Prague was an inspiration for Shakespeare Orange County, and the reception to our work was terrific. After having the opportunity to present this work to international audiences, it is exciting to bring it home to Southern California." Since its inception in 2001, Fringe Festival Praha has welcomed more than 600 companies and thousands of theatergoers to the heart of the city of Prague from all over the world.

Adapted from Shakespeare's first published work in 2002, this 'VENUS AND ADONIS' was originally staged as a class project at Chapman University. In 2003, Shakespeare Orange County further refined the adaptation with several of the original cast members, resulting in a fully mounted production that was lauded by audiences and critics alike.

'VENUS AND ADONIS' is William Shakespeare's hidden treasure. It is the contemporary telling of a goddess' lust for a young man. Following his rejection of the goddess Venus, Adonis winds up being mauled to death by a wild boar. This story of fatal attraction and obsessive female lust was denounced as "lewd" by critics which only boosted its appeal in 16th-century England.

Tickets for Shakespeare Orange County performances are $34.00 (reserved seating) with $32.00 pricing for students/seniors. Season tickets may currently be purchased online at the Shakespeare Orange County website: www.shakespeareoc.org. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Festival Amphitheatre box office from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Festival Amphitheatre is located in Euclid Park – 12762 Main St., Garden Grove, CA 92840. Performances for all SOC productions begin at 8:15 p.m. Picnic areas are available. For more information, call the box office at (714)-590-1575.

WHO: Shakespeare Orange County
WHAT: 'VENUS AND ADONIS' – Plays Friday and Saturday, August 10-11.
WHERE: Festival Amphitheatre, 12762 Main Street, Garden Grove, California.
WHAT TIME: Main stage performances begin at 8:15 p.m.
TICKET PRICES: $34.00. Special rates for seniors, students, and groups are available. Parking is free.
FOR TICKETS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Call 714-590-1575 or visit the SOC website at www.shakespeareoc.org. Picnic areas are available.

Photo credit: Shakespeare Orange County

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