On June 27, Los Angeles’ Independent Shakespeare Company is heading to the Old Zoo at Griffith Park for another season of free Shakespeare. The largest free Shakespeare festival ever to come to L.A., ISC has scheduled 40 nights of programming, featuring a series of three plays.
ISC will offer audiences an interactive pre-show workshop before a selected performance of each of the three productions. The pre-show workshop for She Stoops to Conquer will be held on Saturday, July 20 at 5pm; the workshop for As You Like It will be held on Saturday, August 17 at 5pm; and the workshop for Macbeth will be held on Sunday, August 25 at 5pm. The company has also developed a Salon Series of discussions led by experts on topics relating to Shakespeare to supplement its productions.
“For the last ten years, we have had the extraordinary privilege of performing free Shakespeare in Los Angeles,” said Artistic Director Melissa Chalsma in a statement. “Knowing that we are the first experience of Shakespeare (and even live theater) for so many young people is an honor, and we feel a responsibility to make the experience engaging, challenging, and memorable.”
The creative team for the Griffith Free Shakespeare Festival features scenic design by Caitlin Lainoff, costume design by Michael Neumann, lighting design by Bosco Flanagan, and music composed by David Melville.