Wooden O Presents MACBETH and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS in Summer 2011

Mysticism and mirth pair up this summer for Seattle Shakespeare Company's free Wooden O outdoor productions of Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors. Both productions, which feature elements of the supernatural (one dark and foreboding, the other lampooned), will be performed in parks throughout Puget Sound starting on July 7. Wooden O's Artistic Director George Mount will stage a vaudeville-inspired production of The Comedy of Errors while Tim Hyland helms Macbeth, Shakespeare's eerie tale of ambition.  All performances are free and open to the public with donations encouraged at the site.
 
"I wanted to bring some big, light-hearted goofiness to the parks this summer," says Wooden O Artistic Director George Mount.  "After so much fretting and worrying about the economy and politics, I thought it was high time we laughed outdoors with Shakespeare's silliest show."  For The Comedy of Errors Mount will revisit a vaudeville concept that the company performed during the first years of Wooden O.  "This Comedy of Errors will be filled with slapstick jokes, musical numbers, ventriloquist dummies, and don't be surprised if you see some seltzer-water spritzing as well as cream-pie throwing."
 
Director Tim Hyland makes his Wooden O debut directing Macbeth.  "I've admired Tim's work as an actor in town for so many years and was duly impressed by his direction of Requiem for a Heavyweight at Theater Schmeater," says Mount.  "I have total confidence that Tim will meet the creative challenge of forging a dark and sinister production of Shakespeare's most chilling play in the bright light of a hot summer day."
 
The Comedy of Errors and Macbeth will be performed in parks at Mercer Island, Sammamish, Seattle, Lynnwood, Edmonds, SeaTac, Issaquah, and Shoreline with other cities and venues to be announced.