Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival Celebrates 10 Years on Stage

THOUSAND OAKS, CA – One of the region’s most popular outdoor Shakespeare theatre festivals will celebrate turning 10 years old when the annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival opens the summer season in June. Co–produced by the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company and California Lutheran University, the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will present A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Othello on the CLU campus Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 30 through Aug. 6 at 8 p.m.

The 2006 festival season will open with A Midsummer Night’s Dream beginning on Friday, June 30, and continuing July 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16. Othello performances will be held on July 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, Aug. 4, 5, 6. The grounds will open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking and pre–show entertainment with musicians, dancing, juggling and sword–fighting demonstrations.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, the most produced of all of Shakespeare's comedies, was the first production of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival in 1997. This revival has been recreated by director Lane Davies who originally conceived the staging for the Santa Susanna Repertory Company. Set in the Deep South on a plantation in the 1930s, the play brings together young lovers who are struggling against their parents, comical country bumpkins who are trying to produce a play, and meddling spirits who are portrayed as Confederate–era ghosts. A perennial audience–pleaser, this production is a great family introduction to the works of Shakespeare.

Othello, the ultimate love story of passion, betrayal, jealousy and death, is one of Shakespeare's greatest stories. The Moor Othello, a conquering and powerful general, marries the beautiful young Desdemona against her father's wishes. Plotting by Othello's trusted but treacherous lieutenant, Iago, turns Othello's love for Desdemona to all–consuming jealousy. Set in the exotic world of Mediterranean Italy and Cyprus, this production is sure to fill the Kingsmen stage with excitement and spectacle.

"In celebrating 10 years of presenting quality professional performances of the plays of William Shakespeare, The Kingsmen Shakespeare group will honor those organizations and persons who have helped the festival grow," said Michael Arndt, CLU drama professor and founder of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. "Over 100,000 people have enjoyed the festival atmosphere in beautiful Kingsmen Park, which will be expanded this year. Our pre–show entertainment will contain many additional activities and performances for children and adults."

Admission is $10 for adults, free for those under the age of 18. Lawn box seating is available for $65 and $50. For ticket and lawn box purchase information, call (805) 493–3455 or check the Web site at www.kingsmenshakespeare.org. The CLU campus is located at 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. Alcohol is prohibited on the campus.

Since 1997 the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company has brought Shakespearean plays to the community during the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival in California Lutheran University’s Kingsmen Park. The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, a professional nonprofit theatre organization, also coordinates apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors, sponsors Theatre in Education programs in local schools, and organizes summer theatre camps for youth.