Fourth collaboration follows success of The Wizard of Oz production
The City of Henderson will team up with the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company (LVSC) for the 25th anniversary celebration of Shakespeare in the Park this fall. The popular theatre troupe will present four public performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at four different parks on Saturday evenings in October. Admission is complimentary.
“There is a voracious appetite for Shakespeare in Henderson,” said Dan Decker, Artistic Director for the LVSC. “The performances in the parks are extremely popular. We have a great time doing these shows because the audiences are so huge and responsive."
The partnership marks the fourth collaboration with LVSC in just two years, as well as the second time the thespian ensemble has starred in the city’s longest-running event, Shakespeare in the Park. Last year, the theatre company recruited a star-studded, award-winning cast and production crew to perform the Bard’s masterpiece, Macbeth. Nearly 13,000 Shakespeare devotees attended the four shows, becoming one of the most successful runs of the series. In addition, LVSC participated in WinterFest 2010 as the featured act, with their Scrooge-inspired holiday performance.
Most recently, the group earned a whirlwind of success with its film-to-stage production of The Wizard of Oz this past May at the Henderson Pavilion. With its phenomenal cast of talented actors, which included Henderson resident Carly Richardson as Dorothy, Nevada SPCA rescue dog Cheeto playing Toto and Opportunity Village clients serving as the Wicked Witch’s soldiers, the timeless story made venue history. With nearly 7,300 fans enjoying multiple performances, Oz recorded the largest accumulative attendance numbers at the outdoor theatre since its first show in 2002.
Since its creation in 2008, the LVSC has performed dozens of shows to record audiences across Southern Nevada. In addition to public performances, LVSC takes Shakespeare into Clark County School District public schools, conducting workshops and performances for delighted students and teachers, which, in turn, create jobs, as well as educational and cultural experiences for all citizens across the valley. In fact, as part of the Shakespeare in the Park series, LVSC will perform a private matinee showing of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for thousands of local students at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway, Wednesday, October 19. The complimentary special screening is part of the Public Education Foundation’s outreach program, Shakespeare in the Schools, which has partnered with the City of Henderson on this endeavor for the past 19 years.
Once again, residents will have four opportunities to enjoy Shakespeare in the Park in a neighborhood close by. LVSC will kick off the complimentary travelling tour, performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Saturday, October 1 at Sonata Park, 1550 Seven Hills Drive, with the remaining shows scheduled for Saturday, October 8 at Discovery Park, 2011 Paseo Verde Parkway; Saturday, October 15 at Lake Las Vegas, 15 Costa di Lago; and concluding at River Mountain Park, 1941 Appaloosa Drive, on Saturday, October 22. All performances will be at 7 p.m. with a green show occurring one hour prior to each presentation.
For more information, visit HendersonLive.com or call the Cultural Arts & Tourism Department at (702) 267-2171. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
The City of Henderson supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Advanced notice may be necessary to ensure that appropriate accommodations will be provided. For full telephone, use Relay Nevada by dialing 7-1-1.
About the City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts & Tourism
The City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism is dedicated to creating and promoting innovative events, entertainment, programming and venues that celebrate diverse cultural arts, enhance tourism, involve and serve the community and enrich the economic and cultural fabric of Henderson.
The Henderson Pavilion, Henderson Convention Center and Henderson Events Plaza are all managed by the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism.
For additional information on our programs and entertainment, please contact us directly at (702) 267-2171. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
About the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company
The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company is the Vegas Valley’s hometown Shakespeare theatre, a resident, professional repertory company that presents classic and contemporary live entertainment. With its broad knowledge and expertise, LVSC applies modern storytelling techniques to Shakespeare to create contemporary visions of the classic plays – while at the same time honoring the original texts. LVSC also mounts large-scale musicals to round out its yearly offerings. LVSC works with the Clark County Schools to offer educational outreach year round.