Freehold Engaged Theatre To Tour Prisons, Parks And Hospitals

Freehold's Engaged Theatre, unique in our region, brings its professional production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, directed by Robin Lynn Smith, to prisons, hospitals and parks as well as a brief run at Raisbeck Performance Hall this summer, co-produced with the Cornish Theatre Department.

Realizing the power of theatre to bring about an extraordinary communion between audience and performer is at the heart of the annual Engaged Theatre tour. For 15 years they have connected with some of the Northwest's most challenged and underserved communities.

This year they will reach over 500 inmates, incarcerated youth and in-patient men and women struggling with their mental health. They will also perform excerpted versions of the show followed by workshops in two Seattle area public parks to more directly engage with their audiences.

When asked why she chose The Winter's Tale for this year's tour, director Smith responded "I am inspired by human will, insight, and the courage to look at wrongs we have individually and collectively perpetrated and the suffering we have caused - honestly - and to endeavor to make amends. I am aware that one balm for grief, shame, rage, is the recognition that we are not alone. Shakespeare's plays offer a forum in which we can examine the complex range of human contradictions, and uncertainty - together."

The Winters Tale is about destruction brought about by human frailty, transgression, and betrayal - and the possibility of genuine atonement, sacrifice and reconciliation; it is about the potential in each person for owning our accountability in wrongdoing; and then being given a second chance to make things right again. These are all themes Freehold believes will strongly resonate with the unique audiences on the tour.

Freehold and the artists of Engaged Theatre return eagerly to this work for the creative inspiration it confers as well as for the opportunity to experience and share in the power and "communion" that occurs between performers and enthusiastic audience members. Smith says, "We are privileged to perform for our extraordinary audiences and have been amazed by what we continue to learn about art, humanity, identity, existence, diversity, compassion, and community when we create theatre that breaks the mold." Arthur Longworth, an inmate at Monroe Correctional Complex, described our performance of OTHELLO, "...I was deeply moved and that startled me..." and that he experienced it as - "...an interaction between the cast and the audience and the audience and the cast ...that exists on a different level than can be achieved from conversation or conveyed in a letter - or through any other medium I can think of."

The cast for this year's tour includes: Christine Marie Brown (Hermione), Avery Clark (Polixines), Sunam Ellis (Paulina) Sylvester Kamara (Leontes) and Kerry Skalsky (Antigonus).

The production will include live music with a score composed by Gino Yevdjevich of Kultur Shock, set design by Reiko Huffman. Cast across gender and race lines, reflecting the diversity of our audiences, this ensemble will bring this story simply and vividly to life.

Freehold's Engaged Theatre tour 2018 The Winters Tale by William Shakespeare Director: Robin Lynn Smith Scenic Design: Reiko Huffman Scenic Consultant: Catherine Cornell Costume Design: Doris Black Lighting Design: Dani Norberg Composer: Gino Yevdjevich Musicians: Annie Ford, Val Holt Movement Director: Vanessa Skantze Fight Choreographer: Kerry Skalsky Production Stage Manager: Maren Commendant Assistant Director: Hannah Morin

Restricted performances: July 9, Echo Glen Children's Center, a juvenile detention facility, Snoqualmie July 10, Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor July 11/12, Monroe Correctional Complex for Men, Monroe July 20, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle

Public performances of The Winter's Tale: July 13, 6P, Pratt Park - excerpted show with a workshop following 1800 S Main St, Seattle July 14, 4P, Volunteer Park - excerpted show with a workshop following 1247 15th Ave E, Seattle Performances at Raisbeck Performance Hall 2015 Boren Ave, Seattle July 18, 19, 21, 23 and 24 at 8P and July 22 at 4P

All performances are Pay What You Can. Reservations requested through Brown Paper Tickets.

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