RICHMOND SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Announces 5th Season

Richmond Shakespeare Festival to open its 2018 Summer Season with Macbeth and The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare

Vaulting ambition, murderous plots, scheming witches, jealous kings, and misplaced princesses are all on the menu as Richmond Shakespeare Festival prepares to serve up their 2018 season.

Presenting The Winter's Tale and Macbeth as a dynamic pairing in rotating repertory, the productions will be created by a brilliant cast and crew of AEA and non-AEA professionals, college-age interns, and volunteers sourced from as nearby as Richmond, and Indianapolis, and as far away as Utah, Maine and New York.

It's all a part of Producing Artistic Director Patrick Flick's plan to bring the best talent possible to the heartland city of Richmond, Indiana. "We want this to be a destination theatre," say Flick, "and the best way to do that is to develop a reputation for nothing but the finest quality in our productions - from the acting, to the directing, to the costumes, to the scenery, the lighting, and best of all, our unique Elizabethan Stage in the Whitewater Gorge Park - you'll find nothing but the best Shakespeare the world has to offer right here in Indiana."

Opening this summer's Festival is The Winter's Tale - Jealous King Leontes orders his Queen Hermione imprisoned and, (fearing she is not of his issue), his infant daughter to be abandoned in the wilderness. The Princess, Perdita is raised as a foundling by a kindly Shepherd. Sixteen years pass. Perdita meets kindly neighboring Prince Florizel, and they fall in love. Will they find happiness? Will the King have a change of heart? Will we ever see Queen Hermione again? Come see us this summer and find out! Directed by Miami University faculty member, Saffron Henke, The Winter's Tale will bring a modern version of the story to life, juxtaposing a colder, stifling Sicilia, with a warmer, more open Bohemia.

Alternating performances with the same cast is Shakespeare's Macbeth, and directed by University of Cincinnati Theatre Department faculty member, Susan Felder. Witches, vaulting ambition and unyielding desire are the driving factors that lead Lord and Lady Macbeth to weave a wild web of murder and deceit in their lust for ultimate power. In a delicious prophesy, a witch greets Macbeth with: "All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!" Who could resist an offer like that? Come to Richmond to find out how the Macbeth's deal with their newfound infamy.

With costumes designed by Denise Warner of the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, sets by Mickey White of Richmond, Indiana, and lighting by Garrett Bell of Purdue University, this season's productions are designed to please.

Leading the company is Producing Artistic Director, Patrick Flick, (also Executive Director of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association). On visiting Richmond, he says "Anytime is a good time to come to Richmond, but the summer is really the best. Come see some of the only Shakespeare being produced right here in beautiful Wayne County. We're an hour and change from Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and even closer to Dayton and other surrounding communities."

The Festival performs in the Starr-Gennett Pavilion in the beautiful Whitewater Gorge Park at 201 S. First Street in Richmond Indiana. Tickets are available online at www.richmondshakes.org, or by calling 765.373.9022.

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