THE COMPLEAT WRKS OF WLLM SHKSPR & More Set for Shakespeare Dallas' 2015 Summer Season

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon. Summer is here, which means only one thing: Shakespeare Dallas is kicking off another season of Shakespeare in the Park. The 2015 season features two favorite plays written by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear, as well as The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) [revised] written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. The performances will take place at the Samuell Grand Amphitheatre, 1500 Tenison Parkway in Dallas and at the Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle, in Addison.

The 2015 Shakespeare in the Park season opens in June with The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) [revised] and will be directed by Executive and Artistic Director Raphael Parry. This laugh-out-loud production combines all of Shakespeare's 37 plays in 90 minutes. Follow the escapades of three madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare's comedies, histories and tragedies, but be prepared for side-splitting shenanigans! Performances at the Samuell Grand Amphitheatre will run June 17-20 and continue on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays July 1-24. Performance time for all shows is 8:15 p.m.

Romeo and Juliet is the second production in the 2015 Shakespeare in the Park summer season and is directed by Artistic Associate Rene' Moreno. In perhaps his most well-known romantic tragedy, this play tells the tale of an ancient feud between the Montague and Capulet families, and how it disrupts the city of Verona. Performances at the Samuell Grand Amphitheatre run June 24-28 and continue Tuesdays, Saturday and Sundays, June 30-July 25. Performance time is 8:15 p.m. for all shows.

The 2015 Shakespeare in the Park season closes with King Lear, also directed by Parry. Upon his retirement, King Lear chooses to divide his kingdom between his three daughters but first, tests each of them to determine their worthiness. As a result, he loses everything -- including his mind -- and finds himself betrayed in return. This story of love, loss, endurance and reconciliation has fascinated audiences for more than 400 years. The production opens with performances at the Samuell Grand Amphitheatre on Wednesdays-Sundays, Sept. 16-26 and will conclude with performances at Addison Circle Park Wednesdays-Sundays, Oct. 1-11. Performance time for all shows is 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park performances are:

· Tuesdays and Wednesdays -- FREE, but donations are encouraged

· Thursdays and Sundays -- $10 for ages 13 and up. $7 students and seniors. Children 12 and under and members of the military are free.

· Fridays and Saturdays -- $15 for ages 13 and up. $12 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under and members of the military are free.

A Season Pass grants unlimited free admission to Shakespeare in the Park performances, access to all Shakespeare in the Park seating areas and early admission at 7:00pm through the advanced ticket line. A Season Pass for one is $50; for two, $90; and for four, $150 with the option to add additional family members for $25 each. A parking pass is $15. Additional ticket information is available online at www.shakespearedallas.org/online-box-office.

Inspired by the egalitarian nature of the New York Shakespeare Festival, Robert "Bob" Glenn started The Shakespeare Festival of Dallas in 1971 as a free summer Shakespeare Festival. The company serves the community as one of North Texas' most treasured cultural institutions and the area's only producer of an education program focused on teaching Shakespeare. In 2005, the company revamped its operations and branded the organization "Shakespeare Dallas" to illustrate the company's new direction of year-round, affordable and accessible programming. Shakespeare Dallas aspires to use the works of William Shakespeare as a catalyst for creating unparalleled artistic and educational programs that are meaningful and enriching for the community it serves throughout North Texas. For more information, visit www.shakespearedallas.org.

Pictured: Tony Ramirez, Stephen Young & Clay Wheeler aim to tackle all of Shakespeare's plays in just 90 minutes. Photo by Jessica Helton.

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