City Parks Presents SUMMER SHAKE UP!: A SPECIAL EVENT FOR STUDENTS 7/10

SummerStage has announced the continuation of their first theater season with Summer Shake Up!; a fun and special theater event for students 6th grade and up! Participants will experience the workings of a major American theater company, participate in an exciting dramatic encounter with Shakespeare led by professional artists from the renowned Public Theater, investigate Shakespeare's text through games and improvisations and even have the opportunity to perform on stage at the newly renovated Crotona Park Amphitheater. Families and all ages are welcome!

Summer Shake Up! is a part of SummerStage's summer-long FREE theater program and will take place on Saturday, July 10th at Crotona Park in the Bronx, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The day will culminate with the final performance of Radha Blanks's production of American Schemes at 8:00 p.m.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

10:00 a.m. - Check in for Summer Shake Up!
10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Summer Shake Up!
8:00 p.m. - American Schemes

"Summer Shake Up! is a terrific and fun way to get kids involved in the art of theater and to learn more about Shakespeare," said City Park Foundation's Director of Theater Programs, Freedome Bradley. "We are thrilled to be partnering with the highly acclaimed Public Theater to bring this unique, interactive program that will nurture children's imagination and creativity."

American Schemes is a special commission by City Parks Foundation that delves into and explores the enigma of The American Dream. Comprised of three acts that focus on people from various social hierarchies including immigrant vendors trying to make dollars, corporate yuppies trying to make a family and female emcees trying to make it big, everyone is trying to 'make it' in the land of golden opportunity. But at what cost?

The full cast of American Schemes includes Radha Blank, Jocelyn Bioh (Fatou/Plush), Robyn Corujo (Rosa), Glenn Gordon (Daryl/Clay), Teresa Avia Lim (Lucy, Assistant), and Ayesha Ngaujah (Tracy, Idunno).

The creative team for American Schemes includes Ana Milosevic (Scenic Design), Dede Ayite (Costume Design) and Luqman Brown (Sound Design).

This year in honor of the 25th anniversary, SummerStage is excited to have expanded from Central Park to encompass all five boroughs, and will feature productions in Von King Park, Brooklyn, Betsy Head Park, Brooklyn, St. Mary's Park, Bronx, Crotona Park, Bronx, Springfield Park, Queens, Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan and East River Park, Manhattan.

For up-to-date SummerStage scheduling and line-up for SummerStage programming, visit http://www.SummerStage.org.