Philly Favorite Shakespeare in Clark Park Gets New Leadership

A familiar face is taking the lead at Shakespeare in Clark Park, the theater company which each year brings free outdoor Shakespeare to thousands in Clark Park, West Philadelphia. Kittson O'Neill (InterAct Theatre Company, Orbiter 3, Hedgerow Theatre) has been named as the new Artistic Director. Kittson O'Neill made her SCP debut last summer when she directed the 10th Anniversary production of The Winter's Tale which brought together professional actors, more than 20 local children, and an unforgettable bear puppet. The show drew almost 5,000 audience members to Clark Park.

O'Neill succeeds Marla Burkholder, who helmed the company for its first ten years and co-founded the company in 2005 with Maria Möller, Tom Reing and Whitney Estrin. "Kittson's commitment to both a strong and progressive artistic vision and a high level of authentic community engagement makes her a great fit for Shakespeare in Clark Park," says John Frisbee, SCP's Board President. "Under Marla's leadership, we made SCP a summer tradition for thousands from over the region, and I can't wait to see what kinds of special experiences Kittson has in store for our artists and audiences."

O'Neill is no stranger to the Philadelphia theater scene. She has directed The Three Christs of Manhattan (World Premiere, co-directed with Seth Rozin) at InterAct, On The Verge at Hedgerow Theatre, We Can All Agree To Pretend This Never Happened for A Play, A Pie and A Pint, and most recently A Knee That Can Bend (World Premier) for Orbiter 3. She is currently the Artistic Associate at InterAct Theatre Company where she created the Core Playwrights Program and runs the 20/20 Commissions and Development Awards.

Prior to that she was the Literary Manager for New Jersey Repertory Theater and an Associate Artist for Relentless Theater Company in New York. She is a graduate of the Public Theater's prestigious Shakespeare Lab. As an actor, she has worked on dozens of stages around the area and beyond. She is currently appearing in Or, at Hedgerow Theatre. Favorite recent roles include Hannah in Arcadia (Lantern Theater), Mr. Doctor in The Body Lautrec (Fringe Arts), and Tambrey Walker in Down Past Passyunk (InterAct). For more information, please visit shakespeareinclarkpark.org.

ABOUT SHAKESPEARE IN CLARK PARK Shakespeare in Clark Park is a theater company committed to presenting free, outdoor productions of Shakespeare's plays, creating a cultural event accessible to the Clark Park neighborhood and the greater Philadelphia area. With Henry: Your Prince and Mine and The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare in Clark Park began practicing Radical Community Engagement and remains committed to thoughtfully incorporating the community in future seasons. Over 10 seasons, Shakespeare in Clark Park helped to expand Philadelphia's summertime cultural scene while re-imagining the world of the park through the works of Shakespeare.

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