The best thing about living in Minnesota is: a) theater, and b) lakes. Combine those two, and you have about as perfect of a Minnesota experience as you can have. Classical Actors Ensemble is presenting Shakespeare's comedy TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA at Lake of the Isles (and other select locations) this summer. I saw the matinee yesterday, and it was a lovely way to spend a picture perfect Minnesota summer afternoon. The show is utterly charming, and something about doing it outdoors in a public space makes Shakespeare seem more immediate, natural, and real, like this is a story that's happening in our world here and now. I sometimes have a hard time getting into Shakespeare, but this company makes it extremely accessible and so easy to become engaged in the stories, characters, and Shakespeare's beautiful words, which sound modern and fresh in this context. Their mission is: 'Classical Actors Ensemble is dedicated to engaging audiences by capturing the spirit in which plays of the English Renaissance were originally performed - with immediacy, passion, and as popular entertainment.' Mission accomplished.

When the subject is Shakespeare's bittersweet comedy TWELFTH NIGHT, the metaphors and analogies come easily to director Rebecca Taichman, who uses words like 'epic,' 'complex,' 'Mozartian' and 'perfect.' 'It's truly bottomless,' she says. 'I thought I knew everything about the play, and I just keep unpeeling layers.'

The Old Globe presents William Shakespeare's delightful and romantic Twelfth Night, directed by Rebecca Taichman, whose production of the time-traveling Time and the Conways fascinated audiences last April, as part of the 2015 Summer Shakespeare Festival. The Old Globe engagement runs through July 26, 2015, with opening night tonight, June 27 at 8:00 p.m., in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

The Old Globe presents William Shakespeare's delightful and romantic Twelfth Night. Rebecca Taichman, whose production of the time-traveling Time and the Conways fascinated audiences last April, is back to direct the first show of the 2015 Summer Shakespeare Festival. The Old Globe engagement began performances on June 21 and runs through July 26, 2015, with opening night set for tomorrow, June 27 at 8:00 p.m., in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

New York State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, of Brooklyn's District 52, will speak at the opening night of celebrated theatre company Smith Street Stage's upcoming production of Henry IV, Part One and Part Two in Brooklyn's Carroll Park.  The event will take place on July 2nd at 6:30pm. Admission is free. No tickets are required.

According to the Daily Mail, Joely Richardson will portray Shakespeare's heroine 'Margaret of Anjou' in THE WARS OF THE ROSES, helmed by Trevor Nunn at the Rose Theatre, Kingston, beginning in September.

This 19th season of one of our region's most popular outdoor theatrical events features the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company's first performance of Measure for Measure and a return of Richard III. Festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for pre-show picnicking and entertainment.

Marin Shakespeare Company, Marin County's professional, awarding-winning outdoor summer Shakespeare festival, begins its 2015 season with its first presentation of 'Cymbeline.'  

Masterworks Theater Company's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Tamilla Woodard, will end its first season this weekend, June 28, at 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street).

HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE, now in its 11th Season, is pleased to announce the world premiere production of SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY, written and directed by Alexa Kelly, at The Indoor Theatre, Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive (at 145th Street). Performances are FREE and begin Friday, July24 , 8 pm.and continue through Sunday, August 23.  

What's the difference between a dry rub or a wet barbecue sauce brushed on a rack of ribs? For anyone uninitiated into the competitive world of barbecuing, Northern Sky Theater presents a second world premeire for their 2015 25th anniversary season with this theme tiltled: No Bones About It.

'The flower of the garter blooms for every Windsor heart.' So sings the American Player Theatre cast when Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor arrives to open the Up The Hill Theatre season. These beloved characters celebrate 'The Most Noble Order of the Garter' ceremony, which APT stages similar to an early 20th century American Independence day celebration only with English patriotism---summer entertainment costumed by Holly Payne complemented by Nathan Stuber's scenic design.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon. Summer is here, which means only one thing: Shakespeare Dallas is kicking off another season of Shakespeare in the Park. The 2015 season features two favorite plays written by Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear, as well as The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) [revised] written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield. The performances will take place at the Samuell Grand Amphitheatre, 1500 Tenison Parkway in Dallas and at the Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle, in Addison.

This 19th season of one of our region's most popular outdoor theatrical events features the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company's first performance of Measure for Measure and a return of Richard III. Festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for pre-show picnicking and entertainment.

For its 7th season, Young Shakespeare, Austin Shakespeare's teen company, transforms Richard Garriott de Cayeux's outdoor Curtain Theatre (7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive) into a magical forest for their production of the romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Featuring auditioned young actors performing Shakespeare's most beautiful poetry, 'Midsummer' will run Thursdays through Sundays at 8 pm, now through June 28. A performance has just been added for this Wednesday, June 24, 2015!

Summer in New York City is always a great time to brush up on your Shakespeare. It seems there is always some novel way to (re)experience the works of William Shakespeare. Fitting into this idea, Alex Ates and Patrick Greeley's THE SHAKESPEAREAN JAZZ SHOW is a triumphant tour de force that pristinely blends Shakespeare's poetry with a catchy New Orleans jazz beat.

Melody Mennite, who portrays Katherina in Houston Ballet's THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, was given the responsibility of bringing emotional content to senseless violence and etching butt kicking into your memory. As you'll see in our discussion, she worked very hard before she delivered.

Boomerang Theatre Company will present a revival of William Shakespeare's CYMBELINE in Central Park. This production celebrates Boomerang's 17th summer of producing free theatre in parks throughout New York City. The production is directed by Cailin Heffernan. CYMBELINE plays a four week limited engagement in Central Park (71st Street and Central Park West), with general lawn seating. Performances begin tonight, June 20th and continue through July 19th. Performances are free, and no tickets are required.

The Hawaii Shakespeare Festival (HSF) celebrates its fourteenth season at The ARTS at Marks Garage in the center of the vibrant downtown arts district. This year, HSF continues its post-canon-completion tradition of scheduling experimental or non-Shakespeare plays alongside traditional works. The upcoming season includes a commedia dell'arte rep, opening July 10; Winter's Tale, opening July 24; and Othello, opening August 14.

Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of the Henry James gothic novella The Turn of the Screw opens at Theater at Monmouth on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m.

The Daily Mail writes that Rosalie Craig will star as 'Rosalind' in AS YOU LIKE IT at the National Theatre, after Andrea Riseborough has had to withdraw from the show for personal reasons.

Chicago's Walkabout Theater Company joins forces with the international ensemble of Moon Fool to present the Chicago premiere of STORM, a fierce re-imagining of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, created and directed by Anna-Helena McLean and featuring actors from three continents. STORM will play tonight, June 18, through June 28, 2015 at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Marin Shakespeare Company, Marin County's professional, awarding-winning outdoor summer Shakespeare festival, begins its 2015 season with its first presentation of 'Cymbeline.'  

The Harold Clurman Lab Theater, the professional wing of the Art of Acting Studio Los Angeles, is proud to announce its next production, William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Macbeth will open tonight, June 19th, 2015, and will star Emmy Winner Daniel Kucan in the title role. Macbeth will be directed by Ovation - nominated actor and designer, Michael Keith Allen.

For its 7th season, Young Shakespeare, Austin Shakespeare's teen company, will transform Richard Garriott de Cayeux's outdoor Curtain Theatre (7400 Coldwater Canyon Drive) into a magical forest for their production of the romantic comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Featuring auditioned young actors performing Shakespeare's most beautiful poetry, 'Midsummer' will run Thursdays through Sundays at 8 pm, tonight, June 18 - 28.