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Review: JULIUS CAESAR at Independent Shakespeare Company in Griffith Park
by Evan Henerson - Jul 23, 2023

Atmosphere, this CAESAR has aplenty. What David Melville’s production does not have this time is particularly strong acting. Players in several key roles felt miscast, out of synch with their own characters, with fellow players or, in some cases, both. As a result, the production is not great at making us emotionally invest.

Wake Up With BWW 7/10: What's Coming to Broadway in Summer and Fall 2023, and More!
by - Jul 10, 2023

Top stories: Learn more about what's coming to Broadway in Summer/Fall 2023, plus read our interview with New York, New York star Clyde Alves, and more!

Interview: David Melville on Directing Shakespeare's Gritty Political Thriller JULIUS CAESAR
by Shari Barrett - Jul 9, 2023

Given recent events and political drama, including propaganda used to sway the public, nothing should surprise modern audiences when it comes to politics. But perhaps the most well-known dramatic representation of political intrigue takes place in Shakespeare’s classic play Julius Caesar, which centers around the events that led to his assassination by Roman senators on the 'Ides of March' (March 15) 44 B.C.E.  I decided to speak with David Melville about how the production will differ from more traditional staging and why he decided it would be a good fit for audiences.

Review: PRIVATE LIVES at Independent Shakespeare
by Tracey Paleo - Apr 29, 2023

When you get right down to it, Amanda and Elyot are two people with the enormous blind side of being drawn to one another yet destined to hurt one another; walking a fine line between love and hate, desire and aversion. 

Review: GROCERS GONE WILD IN KNIGHT OF THE BURNING PESTLE at Independent Shakespeare Company In Griffith Park
by Evan Henerson - Jul 15, 2022

ISC’s unique brand of Shakespeare in the park has long been a summertime favorite for Angelenos of all ages. PESTLE is a work of Francis Beaumont, not the Bard, but as adapted and staged by director Melissa Chalsma, this loopy bit of play-within-a-play meta is every bit a comic winner.

The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival Returns This Summer
by Stephi Wild - Jun 10, 2022

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) announces the anticipated return of an entire summer (10 weeks) of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival following 2020's virtual season and 2021's shortened season. The location is the Dell at the top of the Old Zoo near the intersection of Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive.

Independent Shakespeare Co. Will Present Feature Length Film: LIVE AT THE PORPENTINE: A COMEDY OF ERRORS
by Stephi Wild - Feb 24, 2022

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) presents its first feature film, Live at the Porpentine – A Comedy of Errors. Adapted and directed by David Melville, this film has the distinction of being the only English language film adaptation of William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.

Live Theater Returns with The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 7, 2021

Independent Shakespeare Co. is roaring back as one of the first Los Angeles theater companies to present live, in-person performances following the pandemic. The Tempest will be presented at a new, temporary performance site in Griffith Park as a result of construction beginning on the long-awaited Griffith Park Performing Arts Stage Project.

BWW Interview: ISC's David Melville & Melissa Chalsma On Being Free, Social Awareness & The Future
by Gil Kaan - Aug 3, 2020

As live theatre remains in lockdown, Independent Shakespeare Company (ISC) is morphing their Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival into a free, livestreaming program of four FESTIVAL EVENTS on Saturdays in August, and a hybrid stage production of ROMEO & JULIET Labor Day weekend. ISC's co-founders David Melville & Melissa Chalsma were most gracious in answering my emailed queries on their twenty-plus-years-old theatre organization.

Independent Shakespeare Co. Presents The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2020 Living Room Edition
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 16, 2020

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) is venturing into the digital space with the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival a?" Living Room Edition, launching a series of four Festival Events live streaming in August, culminating in a brand new, hybrid stage production of Romeo & Juliet live streaming Labor Day weekend. All events will be available free and online.

Independent Shakespeare Co. Announces ART BREAK
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 10, 2020

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC), presenter of the annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, presents Art Break, a series of new podcasts, original short videos and music from the ISC archives. New content will be released each week in an effort to brighten everyone's days as we all navigate through this unprecedented time of staying safer at home due to COVID-19.

Independent Shakespeare Co. Launches Art Break Podcast
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 16, 2020

Independent Shakespeare Co. launches Art Break podcast:

BWW Feature: Seven Date Night Recommendations for a Sensational Valentine's Day
by Ellen Dostal - Feb 2, 2020

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, it's time to get your date night plans in order. BroadwayWorld is ready to help with our top recommendations for a theatre night out on the town. It doesn't matter if you're looking to impress your sweetie, meet up with friends, or escape the daily grind on your own, these productions will certainly sweeten the day.

Independent Shakespeare Co Presents A CHRISTMAS CAROL WITH CHARLES DICKENS
by Stephi Wild - Oct 11, 2019

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC), producers of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, presents for A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens. This holiday season ISC recreates (with a little artistic license) the experience of a reading of A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens, given by Charles Dickens himself. Expect a performance full of the acting pyrotechnics Dickens was famous for, holiday music, wry humor, and redemption. for A Christmas Carol with Charles Dickens will perform at the ISC Studio from Wednesday, December 4 a?" Sunday, December 22 at the Atwater Crossing Arts + Innovation Complex, 3191 Casitas Ave., #130 in Atwater Village.

PHOTO FLASH: Independent Shakespeare Co. Presents PERICLES at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
by Ellen Dostal - Aug 1, 2019

Love is lost and found again in PERICLES, one of Shakespeare's most spellbinding plays. The young Pericles sets out for adventure, but gets more than he bargains for. Twenty-five years later, it's his daughter's turn to sail the high seas as she seeks to unravel the mystery of her birth. 

PERICLES Announced At The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 11, 2019

This summer Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) presents the rarely-performed epic Pericles at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, directed by ISC Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma. Pericles will begin previews on Saturday, July 27 at 7pm, will open on Saturday, August 3 at 7pm and perform through Friday, August 30 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park.  All ISC summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public! Pericles is the second of two productions being presented at this year's Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Twelfth Night is currently playing and will run in repertory through September 1.

Free Shakespeare For L.A. Is Back With TWELFTH NIGHT At The Griffith Park
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 5, 2019

This summer Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) presents the romantic comedy Twelfth Night at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, directed by ISC Co-Founder and Managing Director, David Melville. Twelfth Night will begin previews on Saturday, June 29 at 7pm, will open on Saturday, July 6 at 7pm and perform through Sunday, September 1 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park.  All ISC summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public!  Twelfth Night is the first of two productions being presented at this year's Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Pericles begins Saturday, July 27 and will run in repertory with Twelfth Night.

PERICLES Begins July 27 At The Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
by A.A. Cristi - May 29, 2019

Shake out your picnic blankets and start planning your picnics! We are back for our 16th season of Free Shakespeare in the Park, a summer-long event for all of Los Angeles to play with theater, family workshops, opening acts and special events.

Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival Returns For A Summer Of Shipwrecks!
by A.A. Cristi - May 14, 2019

Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) returns to the Old Zoo at Griffith Park for the 2019 season of the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival with two plays by William Shakespeare performed in repertory: Twelfth Night directed by David Melville and Pericles directed by Melissa Chalsma. ISC is thrilled to return to the Old Zoo for the 16th season of presenting free Shakespeare in Los Angeles Parks! The Old Zoo is located in Griffith Park near the intersection of Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive.

BWW Review: Independent Shakespeare Co.'s JULIUS CAESAR, a Political Crime Story Ripped from the Headlines
by Ellen Dostal - Apr 15, 2019

Taking its cue from Orson Welles' 1937 Mercury Theatre production of JULIUS CAESAR, Independent Shakespeare Co. exercises its exceptional ability to adapt one of Shakespeare's massive works for an intimate indoor setting without giving up any of the play's scope or impact. 

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