Hatfields and McCoys battle in TSF's COMEDY OF ERRORS this summer

Shakespeare meets the Hatfields and the McCoys this summer in Tennessee Shakespeare Festival's family-friendly The Comedy of Errors, running June 17-July 10 in Bell Buckle on the campus of the Webb School.

Tennessee Shakespeare Festival's latest production, The Comedy of Errors - described as "a rollicking version of William Shakespeare's madcap tale of mistaken identity, set in the highlands of 1880s West Virginia."

Since its first season in 2008, the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival has become a summertime favorite for middle Tennesseans who flock to the countryside for groundbreaking productions like last year's Two Gentlemen of Verona. The innovative performance featured 1960s-era country music singers and Shakespearean send-ups of Cash and Cline.

The current production features some of Tennessee's favorite actors, including Patrick Waller (Big River, 39 Steps), and Martha Wilkinson (Sweeney Todd, Pump Boys and Dinettes), and is directed by veteran actor and director Lane Davies. With original music by Matthew Carlton, and a fair share of folk and gospel classics, this summer's festival promises to be one of our most family friendly offerings to date.

The TSF has brought the plays of William Shakespeare to a larger audience by setting them in the South and incorporating such iconic characters as Civil War soldiers and country singers, demonstrating the universality of the plays and making these classic works relevant to a modern audience. The new production promises to entertain and inspire with its "Hatfields and McCoys" feel, performed by a "vagabond troupe of actors" from the late 19th century including comedic favorites Bobby Wycoff and Jerry Winsett.

From its inception, the mission of the TSF has included a strong educational initiative, providing on-going opportunities for students to get involved with a professional production. It has put young and aspiring actors on the stage with some of the area's finest actors and artists, and provided a family-friendly atmosphere with an outdoor venue and picnicking available in the beautiful setting of Bell Buckle.

The Comedy of Errors, presented by Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, runs June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and July 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10; with Friday/Saturday Performances 8 p.m., and Sundays at 7 p.m. Picnic grounds open at 6 p.m. Tent seating is available, as well as "festival" or grounds seating for those preferring to bring blankets or chairs. Food is available on-site. Premium seating is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Festival seating tickets $5. Children under 12 free.

For more information, visit the company website at www.tennesseeshakespearefestival.com. For tickets, call Tickets Nashville at (615) 397-1597. To become a TSF sponsor, e-mail Linda.EdellHoward@arlaw.com