BY EMMA PEPPER, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, THE HUB
Are you ready to watch the words of Shakespeare come to life in the penthouse suite of a hotel in Morgantown? What about in a community-created outdoor performance space, surrounded by public art in downtown Grafton? Or a historic mansion in Philippi?
There are still 10 performances left in this summer’s Laugh and Let Go Tour with West Virginia’s only Shakespeare troupe, The Rustic Mechanicals. The troupe will perform As You Like It on the following dates:
Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 7:00p
Waterfront Place Hotel – Morgantown, WV
*indoors/outdoors, ticketed event
Saturday, July 13, 2019 at 6:00p
Adaland Mansion – Philippi, WV
*indoors/outdoors, dinner theater, ticketed event
Sunday, July 14, 2019 at 7:00p
Toad Hall – Grafton, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Friday, July 19, 2019 at 7:30p
The Park at 5th & Lee – Montgomery, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 6:00p
Palatine Park – Fairmont, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 7:00p
Town Center Amphitheater – Elkins, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 7:00p
Ferguson Memorial Park – Shinnston, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Friday, July 26, 2019 at 7:00p
Ferguson Memorial Park – Shinnston, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 7:00p
Valley Park – Hurricane, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
Sunday, July 28, 2019 at 7:00p
The AMP – Clarksburg, WV
*outdoors, FREE (by donation), bring chairs & picnics
To find out more information, go to The Rustic Mechanicals Facebook events listing »
The troupe blends their love of Shakespeare with a passion for sparking creative energy in West Virginia, including performing in both traditional and non-traditional venues and offering tickets at free and reduced prices for some events to enable as many residents across the state as possible to see this classic play come to life. For readers who have been following the community development efforts coming out of the All Aboard Grafton group for the past few years, you may have noticed that this tour is traveling to Toad Hall, an outdoor community meeting and performance space that was built as a result of their spirit of collaboration and hard work.
The Rustic Mechanicals is also focused on supporting new leadership and talent from emerging artists in the Mountain State. They formally established an apprentice troupe in 2017. Actor Callia Byard joins the cast of As You Like It this year in her first tour as a professional member of the troupe after being promoted from the rank of apprentice.
The Rustic Mechanicals describe the play:
“Shakespeare’s popular romantic comedy stirs wit, sentiment, intrigue, and love into a charming confection which challenges the traditional rules of romance. At its heart, a feisty but feminine Rosalind, in love with the endearingly naïve Orlando, uses her disguise as Ganymede to council him playfully in the art of wooing. Distraction is provided by the remarkably funny Touchstone, and the sonorous tones and lugubrious wit of Jaques.”
Visit The Rustic Mechanicals events listing page on Facebook to get to one of these performances.
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