The 8th Annual Charlotte Shakespeare Festival Kicks Off 5/30

The Charlotte Shakespeare Festival returns for an 8th year beginning May 30. The 2013 festival will feature full-length productions of Taming of the Shrew and MacBeth, a pre-show performance series and educational workshops for young people. All performances and workshops are free, but donations are encouraged ($5 minimum suggested). Advance donors can reserve seats.

Taming of the Shrew runs from May 30 to June 16 at The Green in uptown Charlotte, 400 South Tryon Street. These performances are outdoors, so bring a picnic. In this staging, directed by Christian Casper, expect a high-energy battle of the sexes set in the Wild West. Local favorites Meghan Lowther and J.R. Adduci star as Kate and Petruchio. Shows begin promptly at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings.

On Sundays prior to Taming of the Shrew performances, children ages eight and up, their parents and other adults are invited to free educational workshops on The Green at 5 p.m. Led by Christian Casper, these workshops will focus on "playing Shakespeare" and will consist of fun, energetic and interactive games and exercises providing insights into the text of the play. No prior experience or training is necessary. Attendance is limited to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations necessary.

MacBeth runs from August 15 to 25 at the Booth Playhouse in Founder's Hall, 130 North Tryon Street. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings, 2 p.m. for the Saturday matinee and 3 p.m. for the Sunday matinee. Charlotte Shakespeare's Artistic Director Elise Wilkinson will direct the show, as the festival moves indoors for its second summer production and its first time at the Booth Playhouse. Dates and times for educational workshops will be announced in June.

The festival's popular pre-show performance series Festivities will return for a fourth year. Local musicians, performing artists, storytellers and poets will entertain audiences beginning 45 minutes prior to each main stage performance, both at The Green Uptown and the Booth Playhouse.

Seating at both shows is first-come, first-served, except for advance donors who may reserve seats for a minimum $25 donation. Donations and reservations can be made at charlotteshakespeare.com. For performances at The Green, patrons are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs and may bring food and beverages (including alcohol), if desired. Seating areas at The Green open 90 minutes prior to curtain. Seating in the McGlohon opens 45 minutes prior to curtain.

Inclement Weather Policy for Performances at The Green: We make every effort to perform our outdoor shows, including performing in light rain or with the threat of rain. However, safety is our primary concern. In the case of lightning or strong rain, we will cancel or temporarily suspend a show as needed to ensure the safety of our audience and actors. In the event of inclement weather at the start of a workshop, the workshop will be cancelled or rescheduled at the discretion of the workshop leader. Patrons may call 704.625.1288 the night of the show or check the website for weather-related updates.

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