Shakespeare coming to the County's AV parks

Quartz Hill - Littlerock – Pearblossom – Lake Los Angeles – There are four dates for you to go to your local park and enjoy a live performance by the AV Players' Arena.

AV Players’ Arena is a group of Arts Schools in the Antelope Valley joining together to stage public performances. Amy Arena explained, “We are a group of three local acting centers: CA Performing Arts, Laity Arts Institute and Lancaster City Parks and Recreation Acting Classes with me, Amy Arena. Laity is a nonprofit that works as an after-school program in Palmdale, but open to all kids, and I teach through Parks and Recreation. Four weeks ago, these kids were asked to learn history created nearly 500 years ago by performing Shakespeare in the Park with LA County. What fun it has been! We're exploring A Midsummer Night's Dream and learning some bent history with Caesar and MacBeth and breaking the fourth wall! Most of the kids have never been on a stage and here we are tackling possibly the most revered playwright of all time! My students are 7 years to 17 years."

What is this anyway? According to Wikipedia, the explanation is: Shakespeare in the Park is a term for outdoor festivals featuring productions of William Shakespeare's plays. The term originated with the New York Shakespeare Festival in New York City's Central Park, originally created by Joseph Papp. This concept has been adapted by many theatre companies, and over time, this name has expanded to encompass outdoor theatre productions of the playwright's works performed all over the world.

Shakespeare in the Park started as an idea to make theatre available to people of all walks of life, so that it would be as readily available as library books. The performances are free admission to the everyone, usually presented outdoors as a summer event. These types of performances can be seen by audiences around the world. It has become wildly popular.

Pick your Park and go enjoy a wonderful theater experience. Take your children!

Questions?

Call your local County Park office.

Sorensen Park: 661-264-1249

Jackie Robinson Park: 661-944-2880

Pearblossom Park: 661-944-2988

Lane Park: 661-722-7780

By Shirley Harriman