One of Shakespeare’s earliest and seldom done comedies is being set in the Old West, in Verona, Kansas. It is 1875, and the small town of Verona is nestled somewhere between Dodge City and Wichita. It is a comedic tale of friendship, love, betrayal, and a little dog.

The Wichita Shakespeare Company (WSC) opens its 2013 Shakespeare-in-the-Park series with “The Two Gentleman of Verona.” In what was likely the very first comedy written by Shakespeare, the play tells the story of Proteus and Valentine – two friends who are both in love with the beautiful Silvia. To add to the rollicking adventure in the play, WSC’s production of “The Two Gentleman of Verona” will be set in a Wild West Kansas, circa 1875. To further the Wild West theme, WSC is excited to be performing the Sat June 22nd show at historic Cowtown.

The play is directed by veteran WSC actor Kevin Sowers. Kevin is making his WSC directorial debut with “The Two Gentleman of Verona.” He recently directed “Moonlight & Magnolias” at Wichita Community Theatre. The impressive cast assembled for this production includes Jared Wise as Valentine, Michael Webber as Proteus, April Karber as Silvia, Zoe Burke as Julia, Vonda Schuster as Launce, and Beth Wise as the Duchess. Others in the cast include Amanda Denning, Stephanie Brean, Heather Jewell, Elizabeth Anderson, Dan Schuster, Curtis Proctor-Artz, Danzel Muzingo Bond, Kevin Dickson, Ben Blankley, Arietta Austin, Christina Dickson, Jessica Gaddis, and Jessica Gagnon.

All shows will begin at 7:00 pm, with an approximate running time of two hours. As always, the play is performed free to all audiences (including the Cowtown performance) but donations are accepted and appreciated. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and, of course, bug spray. In the event of inclement weather, there will be a message posted at 6 pm on the WSC line (316-655-2017) alerting if the show has been cancelled for that evening.

Cast:

Proteus: Michael Webber
Valentine: Jared Wise
Julia: Zoe Burke
Silvia: April Karber
Launce: Vonda Schuster
Speed: Danzel Muzingo Bond
Lucetta: Liz Anderson
Duchess: Beth Wise
Antonia: Heather Jewell
Panthino: Kevin Dickson
Thurio: Dan Schuster
Host: Ben Blankley
Saloon Drunks: Stephanie Brean, Amanda Denning
Outlaws: Christina Dickson, Jessica Gaddis, Jessica Gagnon, Arietta Austin
Crab: Juno Sowers
Eglamour: Curtis Proctor-Artz
Dancing Saloon Girls: Angela Clark, Christina Larsen, and Crystal Jones from ART Burlesque

Directed by Kevin Sowers
Stage Manager: Arietta Austin
Costumes and Props: Jane Tanner

Show Dates and Locations:

June 7th – College Hill Park, Wichita
June 8th – Hap McLean Park, Park City
June 9th – Riggs Park, Haysville
June 14th – Buffalo Park, Wichita
June 15th – Central Riverside Park, Wichita
June 16th – Andover Sports Park, Andover
June 21st – College Hill Park, Wichita
June 22nd – Cowtown, Wichita
June 23rd – Hand Park, Derby

Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. In the event of inclement weather, any cancellations will be posted here or you may call Kevin Sowers at 316-650-5082 for any pending information.

As education is one of the key parts of our mission statement, this opportunity  (at least from initial overview) looks like it could potentially be a “win win” for both WSC and the Parks. But it was felt by the WSC Board that we needed time to plan, prepare, etc.  So the Wichita Parks fees were once again paid this year, and we will explore the workshop opportunity for the 2014 season.

We offer these performances as a service to you for free, but our costs are not zero. Your donations are very important to us, and we want to be good stewards of those donations. You may not realize that there is a yearly fee paid by us to reserve the parks in Wichita. We’re trying to change that.

Since 2004, the Wichita Shakespeare Company has appreciated and benefitted greatly from the sponsorship (i.e., waiver of the park department special event fees) that we received from the Wichita Parks and Recreation Department. In return, we have put on all of our press releases, programs, and posters that we are “Sponsored By Wichita Parks and Recreation.” This sponsorship has allowed us to continue to bring free Shakespeare-in-the-Park performances to Wichita city parks. As part of our non-profit charter, Wichita Shakespeare Company produces Shakespeare for no admission fee. This is an essential part of our mission statement.

In 2011, this sponsorship ended. We received a phone message from the Wichita Parks and Recreation department in April of 2011. The parks department wanted to charge us $1450.00 for “Taming of the Shrew” and “Troilus and Cressida” performances in the Wichita parks. The message stated this is the cheapest they could offer.

After debating whether or not to perform in Wichita at all (minus the previously-planned special Riverfest performance), we ended up negotiating a fee of $300 per year. This was for five June performances, and five September performances, and we paid it in 2011 and 2012. The fee guarantees that the Parks Department will have the grass mowed fairly recently and that the trash is picked up and trash cans are empty, for the most part. The fee does not guarantee that the spaces we normally use will be available, as the parks are “first come, first served” regardless of fees paid.

The negotiated $300 fee to perform in Wichita parks ends up being a fourth to one half of our annual budget, depending on the donations we receive in the season. This situation has happened once before: for several years Wichita Shakespeare Company had to find alternate venues in order to be able to continue providing this service to the people of Wichita.

Help us by letting your city council member know how important free Shakespeare in the Park is to you in Wichita.  Contact information is provided below.

If you have any questions about this situation, please do not hesitate to let us know by messaging us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/wichitashakespearecompany

Contacts:

Karen Holmes (Superintendent – Recreation) – KHolmes@wichita.gov

David McGuire (Superintendent – Forestry and Maintenance) – DMcGuire@wichita.gov

Contact A City Council Member Form

Lavonta Williams, City Council, District 1 – LKWilliams@wichita.gov
District 1 Map

Pete Meitzner, City Council, District 2 – PMeitzner@wichita.gov
District 2 Map

James Clendenin, City Council, District 3 – JClendenin@wichita.gov
District 3 Map

Michael O’Donnell II, City Council, District 4 – MODonnell@wichita.gov
District 4 Map

Jeff Longwell, City Council, District 5 – JLongwell@wichita.gov
District 5 Map

Janet Miller, City Council, District 6 – JLMiller@wichita.gov
District 6 Map

June – Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by Kevin Sowers
September – Cymbeline, directed by Dan Schuster

Specific dates and locations to be determined.

“The evil that women do…lives after them…”

We are happy to announce that our opening night of Julius Caesar will be part of the PGASLA’s re-dedication of Riverside Park! Before the show, starting at around 5:30pm, there will be free beverages and dessert provided by Freddie’s Frozen Custard, and tent exhibits about the history of the Wichita Parks Department, and Riverside Park. We’re expecting big crowds, so make sure you come early!

Riverside Park Re-Dedication Event Details

BRUTUS – Vonda Schuster
CASSIUS – Stacy Chestnut
ANTONY – Danzel Muzingo Bond
CAESAR, GHOST – Beth Wise
LUCIUS, CITIZEN 3 - Amanda Denning
OCTAVIUS, CITIZEN 1 – Marysa Abbas
MESSALA, CITIZEN 2 – Veronica Page Laflin
CASCA, MESSENGER, VOLUMNIUS – Heather Jewell
PORTIA, CLITUS, SERVANT 3 – Darian Leatherman
DECIUS BRUTUS, PANDARIUS – Teri Mott
CALPURNIA, LEPUDIUS, SERVANT 2, CITIZEN 6 – Crystal Meek
CINNA, DARDANIUS – Christy Campbell
PUPLIUS, TITINIUS, CITIZEN 4 – Jillian Clough
SOOTHSAYER, STRATO, SERVANT 1, CITIZEN 5 – Liz Anderson

PDF of Julius Caesar Poster

Fr 9/7 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita
Sa 9/8 – Hand Park, Derby
Su 9/9 – Riggs Park, Haysville
Fr 9/14 – Buffalo Park, Wichita
Sa 9/15 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Su 9/16 – Andover Sports Park, Andover
Fr 9/21 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Sa 9/22 – Hap McLean Park, Park City
Su 9/23 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita

Click “Continue Reading” for photos and video of the production.

Wichita Shakespeare Company Presents Julius Caesar.

The Tempest Poster (PDF)

The Wichita Shakespeare Company (WSC) opens its 2012 Shakespeare-in-the-Park series with “The Tempest.”  The last play fully written by Shakespeare during his career, it tells the story of Prospero (the former Duke of Milan) who was banished to a mystical island with his infant daughter Miranda.  Years pass and, while on the island, Prospero perfects his powers as a sorcerer in order to enact his revenge on those who wronged him. The story encompasses shipwrecks, mystical beings, a murder plot, and drunken jesters, all before the climactic resolution where Prospero ultimately learns to forgive.

The play is directed by Kathleen Barbara.  Kathleen is making her WSC directorial debut with ”The Tempest,” but has served as the drama instructor at Maize High School for many years.  The impressive cast assembled for this production includes Gary L Foiles as Prospero, Crystal Meek as Ariel, and Jillian Clough as Miranda. Others in the cast include Dan Schuster, Vonda Schuster, Mark Schuster, Ben Blankley, Ed Belsan, Mary Tush Green, Heather Jewell, Ben Smith, Miranda Windholz, Mindie Montoya, Kate Roach, and Emily Kerbs.

All shows will begin at 7:00 pm, with an approximate running time of an hour and a half.  As always, the play is performed free to all audiences but donations are accepted and appreciated.  Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and, of course, bug spray. In the event of inclement weather, there will be a message posted at 6 pm on the WSC line (316-655-2017) alerting if the show has been cancelled for that evening.

Exact park/performance locations and dates are as follows:

June 1^st…College Hill Park, Wichita
June 2^nd…Andover Sports Park, Andover
June 3^rd…Riggs Park, Haysville
June 5^th…Star Floating Stage, Wichita River Festival (**Riverfest Button required for this performance**)
June 8^th…Buffalo Park, Wichita
June 9^th…College Hill Park, Wichita
June 10^th…Hand Park, Derby
June 15^th…Central Riverside Park, Wichita
June 16^th…Hap McLean Park, Park City
June 17^th…Central Riverside Park, Wichita

For additional information regarding this show, contact Kathleen Barbara at (316) 990-0799.

The Tempest—Cast List

Antonio—Ed Belsan
Alonso—Mary Tush-Green
Gonzalo—Heather Jewell
Sebastian—Ben Smith
Prospero—Gary Foiles
Miranda—Jillian Clough
Ariel—Crystal Meek
Ferdinand—Ben Blankley
Caliban—Dan Schuster
Stephano—Vonda Schuster
Trinculo—Mark Schuster
Iris/Element—Miranda Windholz
Ceres/Element—Mindie Montoya
Juno/Element—Kate Roach
Element— Emily Kerbs

Photos at the link below.

The Tempest, directed by Kathleen Barbara

Fr 6/1 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Sa 6/2 – Andover Sports Park, Andover
Su 6/3 – Riggs Park, Haysville
Tu 6/5 – Wichita River Festival Performance
Fr 6/8 – Buffalo Park, Wichita
Sa 6/9 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Su 6/10 – Hand Park, Derby
Fr 6/15 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita
Sa 6/16 – Hap McLean Park, Park City
Sun 6/17 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita

Julius Caesar, directed by Mark Anderson

Fr 9/7 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita
Sa 9/8 – Hand Park, Derby
Su 9/9 – Riggs Park, Haysville
Fr 9/14 – Buffalo Park, Wichita
Sa 9/15 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Su 9/16 – Andover Sports Park, Andover
Fr 9/21 – College Hill Park, Wichita
Sa 9/22 – Hap McLean Park, Park City
Su 9/23 – Central Riverside Park, Wichita

We have also received a tentative invitation to perform in June as part of Riverfest this year. Details are still being worked out. Watch for more information.

The Wichita Shakespeare Company (WSC) closes its 2011 Shakespeare-in-the-Park series with “Troilus and Cressida.”  This Trojan War-era play tells the story of Troilus and Cressida, two young lovers torn apart by the long-running war between the Greeks and the Trojans.  The play is difficult to categorize by genre, as it includes elements of both comedy and tragedy.  It had been neglected for several centuries – not coming into its own until the last century. For this reason, and due to its centric theme on the futility of war, it has frequently been called “the Shakespeare play for the 20^th century.”

The play is directed by veteran WSC director Dan Schuster.  Previous WSC directing credits include “Coriolanus,” “Pericles,” “Measure for Measure,” “Two Noble Kinsmen,” “Cymbeline,” “Love’s Labours Lost,” and “The Winter’s Tale.” The impressive cast assembled for this production includes Ben Blankley as Troilus, Charlene Grinsell as Cressida, Jim Crawley as Achilles, and Kenneth Mitchell as Ulysses. Others in the cast include Elizabeth Anderson, Kate Corbin, Heather Jewell, Anna Kraus, April Karber, Vonda Schuster, David Weills, Eric Olson, Robert Esau Rutherford, Mark Schuster, Damian Padilla, Isaac Banta, and Joey LeCompte.

Shakespeare-in-the-Park will return to the very popular Central Riverside, Buffalo, and College Hill Parks in Wichita.  Parks in Andover, Park City, Derby, and Haysville will complete the tour.  All shows will begin at 7:00 pm, with an approximate running time of two hours.  The show is rated PG-13 due to violence and adult content.  As always, the play is performed free to all audiences but donations are accepted and appreciated.  Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and, of course, bug spray.

In the event of inclement weather, there will be a message posted at 6 pm on the WSC line (316-655-2017) alerting if the show has been cancelled for that evening.

Exact park locations and dates are as follows:

Friday Sept 2 – Central Riverside Park
Saturday Sept 3 – College Hill Park
Sunday Sept 4 – Andover Sports Park, Andover
Friday Sept 9 – Buffalo Park
Saturday Sept 10 – Hap McLean Park, Park City
Sunday Sept 11 – Riggs Park, Haysville
Friday Sept 16 – Central Riverside Park
Saturday Sept 17 – College Hill Park
Sunday Sept 18 – High Park Amphitheatre, Derby

For additional information regarding this show or press release, contact Dan Schuster at (316) 655-2017.

Additionally, check out our website at www.wichitashakespearecompany.org or find and “like” us on www.facebook.com.

Click “Continue Reading” to view photos, the video, and the show poster.

Troilus and Cressida Poster (PDF)

Summer show: The Tempest (open director spot; message any Facebook page admin to apply)
Fall show: Julius Caesar (directed by Mark Anderson; cast will be 100% women)

We have selected the #2 and #3 responses to our audience survey. Our #1 response, The Merchant of Venice, is being performed at the Center for the Arts next season.