Midsommer Flight Sets Fifth Season of Free, Outdoor Shakespeare

Midsommer Flight announces its fifth season presenting free Shakespeare productions, returning to Chicago parks this summer with the delightful comedy As You Like It and remounting its hugely successful indoor winter production of Twelfth Night at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in December. Dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare's plays, Midsommer Flight is a proud arts partner with the Chicago Park District.

The 2016 summer production of As You Like It is directed by Midsommer Flight's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf. As You Like It runs July 9 through August 28, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The performance schedule is:

· Lincoln Park: July 9-10 and August 27-28, located on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West.

· Rogers Park: July 16-17 and 23-24 at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St.

· Rogers Park: July 30-31 and August 6-7 at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave.

· Lincoln Square: August 13-14 and 20-21 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St.

All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented 30 minutes prior to each performance. Music programming varies with each venue, with specific performers being announced at a later date. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Midsommer Flight's As You Like It features a cast of 16 and original music. When Rosalind is banished by the evil Duke, she and her cousin Celia set out to the Forest of Arden to make a new life, disguised for safety as a brother and sister. As fate would have it, Orlando, whom Rosalind loves, also flees the evil Duke to the Forest of Arden. But disguised as a boy, Rosalind cannot reveal herself to him. Will true love win out? With joyful music, hilarious comedy, and some of the most famous lines ever penned by Shakespeare, As You Like It is sure to delight audiences this summer.

Following the summer production, Midsommer Flight is thrilled to announce the remount of last year's smash hit, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in December, establishing an annual holiday tradition. The play is presented in the Show House room at the Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Dr., from December 2 through 18 Thursdays - Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Performances are free and open to the public, but reservations will be encouraged due to limited seating. Reservations will become available in the fall. Donations gratefully accepted. For more information, visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Twelfth Night features a cast 14 actors and original music. The play takes the audience to Illyria, where a shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a boy to work for the Duke Orsino. She promptly falls in love with him, who in turn loves the fair lady Olivia. Misunderstandings and misplaced love abound in this delightful comedy. The title of the play refers to the "twelfth night of Christmas," and some historians believe the play was originally written and performed for the holiday. Midsommer Flight's production provides a free, family-friendly activity to Chicagoans for the holiday season and a unique experience amongst other holiday offerings in Chicago. Additionally, the Twelfth Night Original Cast Recording is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play.

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