Nashville Shakes fetes Shakespeare's birthday with BIGGEST BALCONY SCENE EVER 4/23

William Shakespeare's 446^th birthday will be celebrated in grand and proper style in Nashville this month - Friday, April 23 - as Nashville Shakepeare Festival calls on would-be Romeos and Juliets to take part in "The Biggest Balcony Scene Ever!" at 6 p.m. on the south steps of The Parthenon in Centennial Park.

Nashville Shakespeare Festival's artistic director Denice Hicks will direct, or rather "coach," the actors in their scene: "I thought of it in January, I believe," she says. "We didn't celebrate Shakespeare's birthday in any special way last year and I thought this could be a fun way to gather people.

Hicks says he has no idea how many people will take part in the celebration, but "I'm hoping for at least 50: 25 Romeos and 25 Juliets; the allure of dog pairs and children in costumes will hopefully draw more."

Every summer, Centennial Park is host to Shakespeare in the Park and crowds grow each year, demonstrating the continuing popularity of The Bard in Music City.

"Nashville appreciates literature; we are the Athens of the south, eh? And they appreciate great stories - as usually told here by songwriters. Shakespeare's poetry and great stories marries those two passions and fulfills many entertainment desires," Hicks muses.

"Also, I think that Shakespeare in the Park, as an event in and of itself, has a huge following. People come for the overall experience of a family-friendly, outdoor event and get a great professionally performed piece of imaginative theater to boot!"

Edited scripts will be provided for the two-minute scene, and Hicks, will be coaching. Romeos will take their place on the ground, while Juliets line up on the "balcony," (in this case, the top steps of the Parthenon). On cue from the director, the Romeos all say the first line, and the Juliets will respond according to the script.

"Come in costume, bring your own Romeo or Juliet - or find one there," Hicks urges would-be thespians. Prizes will be given for "Most Creative Costume," "Best Star-Crossed Lovers Costume" and "Best Dog Costume."

The 2010 edition of Shakespeare in the Park will feature Hicks' new adaptation of Love's Labor's Lost and she will be directing the production, as well. "I love this play! It's goofy and sappy and very, very funny," she explains.

Individuals wanting to take part in "The Biggest Balcony Scene Ever" can download a copy of the script by going to: www.nashvilleshakes.org/documents/Biggestbalconysceneeverscript.pdf