Shakespeare Royal Oak Opens Thursday Night

Shakespeare Royal Oak kicks off its 18th season in Royal Oak's Starr Jaycee Park Thursday night with the opening of Much Ado About Nothing. The festival continues with peformances and educational programs through Sunday, August 5.Tickets for all performances ($15-$25) are on sale now at www.shakespeareroyaloak.com. Tickets will also be available in person at the park box office beginning one hour prior to show time.

For its 2018 season, Shakespeare Royal Oak will present William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing Thursday through Sunday evenings July 26 - August 5. Shakespeare's romantic comedy will take you back to post-World War II Detroit. Benedict and his band of brothers return in glory from the war, only to find that Beatrice and the other women now call the shots. This hilarious battle of the sexes turns serious at the original wedding-gone wrong, forcing Benedict to choose between love and loyalty.

Under the helm of celebrated director Gillian Eaton, Much Ado About Nothing features Michael Brian Ogden* (Benedict) and Sara Catheryn Wolf* (Beatrice) with Craig Bentley* (Leonato), Stephen Blackwell (Don John), Kyle Clark (Claudio), Annie Dilworth (Ursula), Craig Ester (Don Petro), Sayre Fox (Conrade), Mark Gmazel (Dogberry), Aaron Kurilik (Antonio), Liam Loomer (Borrachio), Shenelle McCrary (Hero), Carly Van Liere (Margaret), and Oren Steiner (Verges). Performances are at 8:00pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday evenings and 5:00pm Sundays July 26 - August 5. Tickets are $25. *Michael Brian Ogden, Sara Catheryn Wolf, and Craig Bentley are members of Actors' Equity Association.

For its Daylight Family Show, Shakespeare Royal Oak has commissioned an original comedy from award-winning author Don Zolidis. In The Comedy of Terrible Errors four unprepared actors desperately need help from the audience to get their version of The Comedy of Errors on its feet. Directed by Water Works Theatre Company veteran Lisa Melinn, this original comedy features Melissa Beckwith (Demetra), Kristin Ann Danko (Ilona), Steven Michael Jean (Andre), and Joel Mitchell (Thomas). Performances are at 7:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and 4:00pm Saturday afternoons July 28 - August 4. Tickets are $15.
Tickets for both productions are on sale now online at www.shakespeareroyaloak.com or www.brownpaptertickets.com.

Shakespeare Royal Oak tickets are sold as General Admission by performance date, but may be used for any performance of the purchased production. Guests may bring their own blankets, low-to-the-ground and regular lawn chairs for lawn seating or choose bleacher seating in the outdoor theatre.

In addition to its professional productions, Water Works Theatre Company is proud to bring its 17th year of outdoor educational programs to this year's Shakespeare Royal Oak festival.

Water Works Teen Ensemble returns to the festival for its eighth summer. The original two-week outdoor creative experience for high school students provides an opportunity for the participants to audition for, rehearse, stage, and present a complete performance of a Shakespeare play. This summer, the ensemble will present A Mid Summer Night's Dream on the Starr Jaycee Park stage July 28 & 29

Saturday and Sunday at 12 Noon and Monday, July 30 at 7:00pm.
Water Works Theatre Company will welcome performance-minded students entering grades 1-8 to its annual outdoor education experience in Starr Jaycee Park July 30 - August 3. KidsAct! offers instruction in Shakespeare, stage combat, dance, and comedic improvisation from highly qualified, professional teaching artists. Students then perform in an hour-long showcase presented for friends and family in Starr Jaycee Park.

Last minute registration is still availabe online at www.shakespeareroyaloak.com or in person at the park for $250 per student.

More information on Water Works Teen Ensemble and KidsAct! is available now online at http://shakespeareroyaloak.com/category/education/.

Shakespeare Royal Oak Festival Schedule All performances and education experiences take place in Starr Jaycee Park, 1201 West 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak MI 48073. Tickets for performances and registration for educational experiences can be purchased online at www.shakespeareroyaloak.com.

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