"Places everyone!" for the opening of the 12th Season of the Shakespeare Festival in Forest Park's Shakespeare Glen. This season features the Bard's Othello, which according to Festival Executive Director Rick Dildine, is one of their audience's most requested plays.
When I stopped by last week, signage was laid out and ready to be installed at the top of the beautiful glen northeast of the Art Museum; and actors were arriving to step onto the outdoor stage for the first time.
Othello is directed by Bruce Longworth, head of the acting program at Webster University. Longworth also directed Hamlet in 2010. The Shakespeare Festival's production is set in 1912 during a lesser-known war between Italy and Turkey. The set designer is Robbie Jones and the costumes–always at the top of my list–are designed by Lou Bird.
Over the past eleven years the Shakespeare Festival has attracted over 500,000 people. The photo of the huge crowd above was taken two years ago when Hamlet was being performed. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, and a picnic–or purchase food and drink under a tent on the festival grounds. Othello will be performed each evening at 8 p.m. (except Tuesdays) from May 23 (May 23 & 24 are preview performances) through June 17. Complimentary backstage tours, 20-minute Talkback sessions, and Green Show activities are available starting at 6:30.
Major donors to the Shakespeare Festival include Emerson, Wells Fargo Advisors, UMB, Missouri Arts Council, Ameren and Scottrade. While the Shakespeare Festival is free, individual donations are definitely encouraged. Call the festival office at (314) 531-9800 or check the website for more information.