Shakespeare Theatre Company to Present THE TEMPEST as 2016 Free For All Event

Kicking off its 30th Anniversary Season, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) will present William Shakespeare's The Tempest as the 2016 Free For All event. Directed by STC favorite and internationally-acclaimed director, Ethan McSweeny, The Tempest will feature STC Affiliated Artist and Broadway veteran Patrick Page as Prospero. STC will also welcome back Sara Topham as Ariel, last seen as Hippolyta/Titania in McSweeny's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Affiliated Artist Edward Gero as Alonso, King Of Naples.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free performances of a Shakespearean classic to the general public each summer. Since its inception in 1991, STC has brought free productions of Shakespeare to more than 662,000 people with the generous support of our sponsors, donors and friends. This year's Free For All production of The Tempest will run August 16-28 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), offering more than 12,000 people the chance to see Shakespeare free of charge.

Ethan McSweeny returns to direct a revival of his stunning 2014 production of Shakespeare's crowning masterpiece. A glittering tale of trickery, power, revenge and forgiveness will delight patrons of all ages as they watch Prospero's magical island explode into life with sprites, goddesses and fools.

"Ethan has a gift for creating richly imaginative worlds on stage and lifting Shakespeare's words off the page," says STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn. "I'm thrilled to welcome his acclaimed production of The Tempest back for Free For All as our annual gift to the D.C. community."

Information about how to receive free tickets is available at: www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/the-tempest-16-17-ffa/