Independent Shakespeare Co. to Present RICHARD III & THE TEMPEST as Part of Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 2016

INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. (ISC) is thrilled to return to the Old Zoo to celebrate the 13th year of presenting FREE Shakespeare in Los Angeles Parks for its 2016 season of its GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. This year ISC will present, for the first time in Griffith Park, two can't miss summertime experiences by William Shakespeare: RICHARD III, directed by Melissa Chalsma, with performances June 25 - July 24 and THE TEMPEST, directed by Matthew Earnest, with performances July 30 - September 4.

This season, the GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTVIAL will also feature various opening acts, a Salon Series of talk-backs, an art workshop and education workshops to make this iconic Los Angeles event this summer's must-do, free, community get together! The Old Zoo is located in Griffith Park near the intersection of Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive.

Managing Director David Melville says, "This is our most ambitious summer: Not only are we bringing both RICHARD III and THE TEMPEST to Griffith Park for the first time, but both productions feature live music played by the company members themselves, extraordinary design, and one of the strongest casts we've assembled, featuring many ISC favorites as well as new faces."

"We're also extremely excited to welcome internationally recognized director Matthew Earnest (Co-Founder of The Lunar Stratagem, Associate Artist at Germany's English Theater Berlin, Founding Artistic Director of deep ellum ensemble, former assistant director to Adrian Hall), as director of THE TEMPEST. It's the first time his work has been seen in Los Angeles, and we're thrilled to bring his unique sensibility to our wonderful Griffith Park audience."

Comments Artistic Director Melissa Chalsma, "It's exciting to see how our productions resonate across the generations. One picture of the modern world is that everyone is always connected to their phones and devices, but what's heartening to us is the fact that thousands of people, young people in particular, seek out the experience of watching a play in the park. Digital platforms may bring them together, but it's for a live, human experience that can't be replaced with

digital media. They give us their attention from the beginning of the play to the end, then want to come back and tell their friends about it. We've always been about populist entertainment and we hold it as a core principle that Shakespeare intended his plays for the masses, not just an intellectual elite or any particular age group or demographic. Because our festival is inclusive, Shakespeare in the park is becoming an iconic Los Angeles summer event, like going to the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Hollywood Bowl."

In addition to the performances, education and engagement programs are presented for learners of all ages. Players in the Park/Teatristas en el parque are family education workshops presented on select evenings. These workshops are an interactive, energetic way to learn about the evening's performance and to become more engaged in the overall live theater experience. For one special evening, Self Help Graphics will bring their Barrio Mobile Art Unit for an art-making workshop.

Also returning this season is the Salon Series, pre-performance discussions led by experts in the field. Guests this year include Steven Leigh Morris, Executive Director of the LA Stage Alliance; John Frank, Senior Librarian with the Los Angeles Public Library and Ranger Mendibles, Park Ranger with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Additionally, ISC is pleased to announce its Festival Arts Partners, local performing artists presenting pre-show performances. This season's guests will include: Invertigo Dance Theatre, La Victoria and The Silver Lake Chorus.

Specific dates for performances, education workshops and special events are listed on ISC's website: iscla.org

GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL will begin June 25 with RICHARD III, followed by THE TEMPEST beginning July 30. All Performances are FREE! The festival is located in The Old Zoo at Griffith Park (near 4730 Crystal Spring Dr.) GPS Coordinates of the parking area: 34*8.034'N, 118* 17.100'W Visit www.iscla.org or call (818) 710-6306 for directions and information.

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