Island Shakespeare Brings Immersive Celebration Of Much Ado About Nothing To Roosevelt Island's Eastwood Amphitheater This Weekend- Come See, Don't Be Just A Witness To The Debauchery
Outdoor Shakespeare comes to Roosevelt Island at the Eastwood Amphitheater starting Friday Night June 15 and continues on consecutive weekends thru July 1. As previously reported:
Summer Shakespeare in Central Park has more New York City competition this year from a new Roosevelt Island Theater Company - Island Shakespeare. According to Island Shakespeare:Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, students and children.
THE SHAKESPEARE ALL AROUND YOUMore on Island Shakespeare from previous post
Island Shakespeare presents an immersive celebration of Shakespeare’s “Much Ado.”
You enter a raucous celebration of Italian Unification (circa 1861), invited to drink and dance with the red-shirted soldiers of Garibaldi’s “Expedition of 1000.” Revelers can follow the story, follow a character, or follow their own desire to explore the piazza.
“Tom and I came across the Eastwood Amphitheater on Roosevelt Island
Eastwood Amphitheater Image From Island Shakespeare
as we were out walking on a warm March day in 2011. We knew we wanted to break out and create our kind of Shakespeare somewhere and it was an ‘ah ha’ moment. We both kind of looked at each other like, this is IT.” says Kristi Artinian, island resident and artistic director of Island Shakespeare.
Director Thomas Kee, an original American cast member of “Sleep No More” now running in Chelsea, brings those sensibilities to “Much Ado.” “People used to think of Tony and Tina’s Wedding or a Ren. Faire when we said interactive theatre. It’s fun like those kinds of shows, but with the added element of a superbly acted play happening all around you.”
The company is made up of a diverse group of classically trained actors and veteran immersive theatre performers such as: Brian Keith MacDonald** (The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino) as Leonato, shock comic Ashley Strand** (Shakespeare Theatre Co. D.C. veteran) as Dogberry, and Lindsay Tanner (Co-Artistic Director of the Accidental Shakespeare Company) as Margaret.
June 15-July 1 with 7:30pm shows Fridays & Saturdays and 2pm matinees Saturdays and Sundays at the Eastwood Amphitheater. Just one stop out on the F train from 63 & Lex. at 516 Main Street, Roosevelt Island. Or take the Tram like Spiderman. Directions available http://islandshakespeare.com/location
Only a limited number of people are admitted to each performance. Booking is recommended online https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9672936 or (866) 811-4111.
**These Actors are appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association
Equity Approved Showcase.
Here's a small snippet from a Island Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing rehearsal last week.
I am very much looking forward to Island Shakepeare's version of Much Ado About Nothing.
