[Capdist-announce] Saratoga Shakespeare Announces 2018 Season of Transformation!

Wed May 2 11:28:59 EDT 2018

*DATE                        *

05.01.18

*FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,
CONTACT:                                                                    *

Barbara Opitz, Executive Director

518.428.2703 or 518.587.2166

bopitz at skidmore.edu

David Girard, Associate Artistic Director

518.528.1677
david at davidmgirard.com

--------------For Immediate Release--------------

*SARATOGA SHAKESPEARE COMPANY*

*Announces their 2018 SEASON OF TRANSFORMATION*

*This summer, Saratoga Shakespeare Company will celebrate its 18th season
in the Forest of Arden and on the fields of war with two of Shakespeare’s
most enduring plays, As You Like It and Henry IV, Parts 1 &2 (combined), in
Historic Congress Park*

The Saratoga Shakespeare Company of Saratoga Springs, NY, is once again
presenting two summer productions: Shakespeare’s *As You Like* *It* directed
by Elizabeth Carlson-Guerin, and Shakespeare’s *Henry IV, Parts 1&2*
(combined)*,* directed by David Girard. Both productions deal with the
theme of transformation with each rooted in capricious states of rebellion,
reconciliation and redemption.  This is a *Season of Transformation*, and
our company is thrilled to celebrate its eighteenth summer season of free
outdoor theater in beautiful Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY.

As always, all performances will be in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, on
the Alfred Z. Solomon Stage, at 6PM. Admission is always free of charge,
and Congress Park is entirely accessible. Both young and old, as well as
family groups, are strongly encouraged to attend – with or without picnics
– for what has become a beloved summer tradition in Saratoga.

As Saratoga’s longest running professional theatre company, both
productions will feature several members of Actors’ Equity Association, the
stage actors’ professional union. In addition, a talented group of
non-union professional actors and members of Saratoga Shakespeare’s Young
Theatre Professional Company will round out the casts. Performances of *As
You Like It* are scheduled for July 17th – July 28th and performances
for *Henry
IV *are scheduled for July 31st – August 4th. Performances are all Tuesday
through Saturday (there are no Sunday or Monday performances).

The Company welcomes back director Liz Carlson-Guerin as director of *As
You Like It*. Director of last year’s mesmerizing *The Winter’s Tale*, she
is a director and dramaturge who specializes in new play development,
classic theatre for contemporary audiences, physical and devised theatre
and community engagement. She served as associate director and company
member for West Philadelphia’s renowned Curio Theatre Company, and her 2016
Philadelphia premiere of *The Birds* by Conor MacPherson for Curio was
Barrymore Award Recommended. She is the Associate Director of the Kenyon
Review Playwrights Conference and a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre
at Kenyon College.

Saratoga Shakespeare also welcomes back Associate Artistic Director David
Girard to direct *Henry IV*. Director of a wonderfully theatrical
production of *Romeo & Juliet* for the company in 2016, he is the Artistic
Director for the new Troy Foundry Theatre, and recently appeared in Capital
Rep’s hit production of *She Loves Me*. He is on faculty at Siena College
and Rowan University, and is currently appearing as a principal actor in
the world premiere of the first full presentation of John Guare’s
acclaimed *Lydie
Breeze Trilogy* with EgoPo Theater in Philadelphia.

Since 2000, the productions of Saratoga’s longest running professional
theatre company have become a beloved Saratoga tradition, and many regional
children have grown up watching Saratoga Shakespeare every summer. The
Company takes pride in presenting Shakespeare’s work with great clarity and
continues to develop a visually arresting and audience immersive aesthetic.

The Saratoga Shakespeare Company is grateful to Skidmore College for their
generosity, as well as continued support from Skidmore’s Office of Special
Programs and the Department of Theater. The Company is a recipient of a
2018 Community Arts Grant from Saratoga Arts as well as an Alfred Z Solomon
Grant.

As an added attraction this year, Saratoga Shakespeare, SPAC and
SaratogaArtsFest will present *Shakespeare in the Pines* on the SPAC
grounds. On Friday, July 20th at 12:30pm Saratoga ArtsFest presents *Shall
I Compare Thee to a Midsummer’s Dream*, a festive afternoon of
Shakespeare’s fairies, nymphs, sonnets and soliloquies created to enchant
children of all ages. At 2:00pm that day the event culminates with a tented
performance of the captivating, one-hour musical adaptation of *Romeo and
Juliet,* directed by Saratoga Shakespeare’s Louis Butelli in association
with Lincoln Center Education, presented by SPAC and Saratoga Shakespeare
Co. in association with Saratoga ArtsFest.

The Company certainly hopes that someone can be made available to review
both productions early in their runs. We have been extremely grateful for
your past coverage of our productions, as well as your overall commitment
to solid arts coverage. For further information, visit
www.saratogashakespeare.com or Saratoga Shakespeare’s Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/SaratogaShakespeare. You can contact our Executive
Director, Barbara Opitz, at 518-587-2166 (bopitz at skidmore.edu) or our
Associate Artistic Director of PR and Audience Engagement, David Girard, at
518-528-1677 (david at davidmgirard.com).

ENDS
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