Shakespeare's Outrageously Fun Romantic-Comedy THE TAMING OF THE SHEW Tours Union County Parks this Summer

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to announce the third annual Shakespeare in the Park tour featuring three free performances of Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew at three Union County parks this summer during July and August.

"This summer's tour of Shakespeare's classic romantic-comedy The Taming of the Shrew in our parks provides an opportunity for residents of all ages to experience the most remarkable storyteller the world has ever known," said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen.

Featuring the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Next Stage Ensemble, The Taming of the Shrew is a zesty version of Shakespeare's classic comedy complete with bawdy humor. It's too fun to miss.

The summer tour of the outrageously fun comedy kicks off at the Shakespeare Garden at Cedar Brook Park in Plainfield on Sunday, July 16 at 1 p.m.

Additional performances include:

Sunday, July 23 at Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade (amphitheater) in Linden at 7 p.m.

Friday, August 4 at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside at 7 p.m.

Admission is free to each of the three performances.

Pack a picnic and bring a blanket or lawn chairs and head out to Union County parks to enjoy The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's Next Stage Ensemble's abridged performance of the time-honored romantic comedy of male chauvinism and women's rights in the 16th century. Petruchio, a poverty-stricken gentleman from Verona, journeys to Padua in search of a wealthy wife. There, he encounters the fiery Katharina, a self-willed shrew who leads Petruchio on a merry chase before he successfully circumvents her attempts to avoid marriage. Their honeymoon becomes a humorous battle of wit and insult with Kate as determined to maintain her independence as Petruchio is to "tame" her.

The Next Stage Ensemble, the Shakespeare Theatre's summer touring company of early career actors, is part of the Theatre's Summer Professional Training Program which offers students working toward a career in the performing arts clear instruction, individual attention, and thoughtful and candid evaluation in a professional theatre environment. The Next Stage Ensemble works with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's resident and guest directors to fully develop abridged productions of classic plays. The troupe tours to various locations throughout the state - including libraries, retirement homes and community centers.

Now in its 54th season, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus. One of the leading Shakespeare theatres in the nation, serving 100,000 adults and children annually, it is New Jersey's largest professional theatre company dedicated solely to Shakespeare's canon and other world classics. Through its distinguished productions and education programs, the company strives to illuminate the universal and lasting relevance of the classics for contemporary audiences.

For more information or for a complete listing of summer events visit ucnj.org.

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