2011 La Cañada Flintridge Shakespeare Festival Announces Events 6/24-7/31

On Friday, June 24th to Sunday, July 31st at 8pm, VanguardRep will present its annual summer festival, La Cañada Flintridge Shakespeare Festival (LCFShakes). The world premiers of After the Autumn and Tragic Women will play in repertory with a further adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. LCFShakes will perform Thursday through Sunday at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy's beautiful outdoor Byrnes Amphitheater. Nestled under the stars on the crest of the San Rafael hills in the San Gabriel valley, the amphitheater is ideal for large attendance events offering FREE, convenient parking, secured ticket booths, concession areas, and fully equipped handicap restrooms and access to the theater.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.vanguardrep.com

Opening first will be an original adaptation created and developed by VanguardRep. After the Autumn examines the effects of post-traumatic stress on the human psyche and, perhaps more importantly, the human soul. It is the story of two men: a psychologist who has retreated into self-medication and is on the brink of losing his family, career and life; and a war-torn veteran who has hidden away behind silence in order to restrain his rage and conflicted spirit. Thrust together by circumstance, they struggle to find meaning when fate seems to propel them toward an end without choice. Inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth, After the Autumn is a contemporary tragedy that begs the question: are we fated to be who we are, or do we have the power to change our own path?

Joining After the Autumn is a short original piece, also created by VanguardRep, starring Juliet, Desdemona and Ophelia-Shakespeare's Tragic Women. This piece examines the nature of their choices by joining the three in purgatory for an avant-garde piece combining text, movement and song.

Finally, showing in rep will be VanguardRep's original adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Patrons having already experienced the 2010 adaptation will be treated to something fresh and refined - a further adaption of last summer's hit. Those who missed last season should visit the website, enjoy production photos and not miss the second-time around of an exciting new look on the popular classic.

Founded with the objective of invigorating the American theater, Vanguard Repertory Company supports the unique nature of live theater by elevating the experience of everyday life to the stage, trusting fully in the audiences' imagination and participation. We believe that this requires the company to be constantly evolving with the audience by dedicating fully to the craft of live theater. Thus, VanguardRep believes that the craft of the artists involved is directly related to the quality of the theatrical performances. Ultimately, certain levels of quality can only be attained by developing an artistic company who work together closely over time through education and application.

Box Office Info:
www.vanguardrep.com
818-745-3327

Performance Dates (curtain at 8pm all nights):
Tragic Women/After the Autumn: June 24-26 (opening); July 7-8; July 16-17; July 22-23; July 30-31
A Midsummer Night's Dream: July 1-3 (opening); July 9-10; July 14-15; July 21; July 24; July 28-29

Ticket prices:
Friday/Saturday $29
Thursday/Sunday $25
Students (18 and under) $12

Adult Festival Pass $48
Student Festival Pass $22

*Discounted pricing available on website (Advanced & Group bookings)