20th Anniversary of Seattle Shakespeare Company's Wooden O Kicks Off Season Tonight

Seattle Shakespeare Company kicks off its schedule of Wooden O free, outdoor summer plays - Henry V and The Tempest - which will run tonight, July 11, continuing through August 11. During Wooden O's 20th Anniversary both plays will perform in park venues throughout King County (please see attached schedule). All performances are free and open to the public. Donations are heartily encouraged.

"In 1994, when I founded Wooden O, I had never stared a theatre company, never directed myself in a play, and never seen outdoor Shakespeare," said Artistic Director George Mount. In the years since that first performance on Mercer Island, free Shakespeare has spread to other communities like Issaquah, Lynnwood, Shoreline, and SeaTac. This summer Wooden O will perform across the region from Des Moines to Edmonds, Seattle to Sammamish, reaching 11 cities in all and over 10,000 people. "I deeply believe in the core mission of Wooden O, to bring to the people of our region the highest quality productions of Shakespeare for them to enjoy regardless of economic barriers. We have gone far beyond what I could have expected when I was twenty years younger."

2013 Wooden O Outdoor Season

HENRY V

Directed by George Mount

A young, untried king tests his mettle in battle against overwhelming odds. His army dispirited and outnumbered, his conscience unsure of his cause or his abilities, the young King Henry learns that leadership is far more than just being the one with the crown.

THE TEMPEST

Directed by Kelly Kitchens

Shakespeare's magical tale where revenge yields to forgiveness. Exiled by his younger brother and marooned on an enchanted island with his daughter, the aging sorcerer Prospero discovers the human heart wields a greater power than all the spells at his command.

Seattle Shakespeare Company's 2013 Wooden O outdoor season is presented with support of the US Bank, Seattle Rotary, Issaquah Arts Commission, Mercer Island Community Fund, Mercer Island Lions, Mercer Island Rotary, and Mercer Island Kiwanis.