Shakespeare in Clark Park's THE WINTER'S TALE Plays This Weekend

Shakespeare in Clark Park celebrates its 10th Anniversary with The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare's tragicomedy of family and forgiveness. Director Kittson O'Neill (InterAct Theatre Company, Hedgerow Theatre) helms the company of professional actors along with a chorus of over 30 Philadelphia-area children. The Winter's Tale opens under the stars in "the Bowl" of Clark Park today, July 29 and runs through August 2. All performances are at 7 p.m.

Shakespeare's tale, which spans the generations of two kingdoms and two families, is full of laughter and heartbreak. Leontes and Polixenes, rulers of Sicilia and Bohemia, are best friends, until jealousy and madness tear their families apart. Magic, fate and forgiveness intertwine in unimaginable ways as a new generation reconciles the sins of the past.

Last year, SCP brought a 100-person army to do battle for Henry V. This year, Philadelphia-area children get their turn joining professional actors on-stage to tell the tangled tale. Director Kittson O'Neill, in addition to wanting to engage the community, wanted a way for the audience to relate more immediately to the events of the play.

According to O'Neill, "The Chorus of Children not only helps perform The Winter's Tale, it also allows the audience a way into this foreign world." O'Neill continues, "It's a tale of generations and how consequences are often felt most strongly by the next generation. The Chorus, and the audience, are a witness to the triumph and failures of the adults, just like children are in a family. The audience gets to see the Children flourish when the kingdoms heal and forgive."

Rounding out the creative team behind the 10th Anniversary production, are Mellie Katakalos (Scenic Design), Jillian Keys (Costume Design), Maria Shaplin (Lighting Design), and Robert Kaplowitz (Sound Design). A very special puppet is being designed by Aaron Cromie for one of The Winter's Tale's most infamous scenes.

In addition to the Children's Chorus, O'Neill directs a company of professional actors led by Kevin Bergen (Leontes) and Bi Jean Ngo (Hermione). They are joined on-stage by Corinna Burns (Antigonus/Old Shephard), Nicole Godino (Paulina), Gracie Martin (Perdita), Brandon Pierce (Florizel), Wendy Staton (Camillo), Sam Sherbourne (Clown), Thomas Van Dean (Lord/Young Clown), and Hannah Van Sciver (Mopsa/Emilia).

The Winter's Tale premieres on July 29 and runs through August 2. All performances are free and are at 7 p.m. in "the Bowl" of Clark Park, located near the intersection of Chester Avenue and 43rd Street in West Philadelphia. The rain location is the Mandell Theater of Drexel University located at the corner of 33rd and Chestnut Streets. For more information, please visit shakespeareinclarkpark.org.

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