Performances, Workshops

& Yoga, All To

Honor Shakespeare

STRATFORD — Festival Stratford, which opened on August 12, will continue through August 15 on the grounds of the Shakespeare Theatre (currently known as American Festival Theater), 1850 Elm Street.

In addition to performances of Henry V (Saturday and Sunday evenings) and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged by Shakesperience Productions, the lineup includes two Quickies in the Park performances by The Squarewrights (Friday at 8 and Saturday at 4, following this year’s theme of “A Second Chance at History”), The Tempest by the Hudson Shakespeare Company (Saturday at 2), and a dance routine by New York-based Clarity in Motion (Saturday at 9:30).

Shakesperience Productions will also offer an Interactive Shakespeare Workshop followed by a performance of Rapunzel as part of Children’s Day on August 15.

Performances by CT Dance Conservatory will take place from 10 am through 1 pm, followed by an hour-long Rapunzel performance by the Waterbury-based Shakesperience Productions. In an innovative adaptation by Dan Ciba, Rapunzel tells a timeless tale of respect, friendship, and caring.  Shakesperience will continue this children-focused day with a highly participatory program at 4.

The Interactive Shakespeare Workshop for Children and Families is a one-hour adaptation of Shakesperience’s signature series of in-class Shakespeare workshops for schools.  In this inclusive format, the Shakesperience team leads tweens/teens on the festival stage through Shakespeare’s language and times, literary devices, and universally themed scenes featuring student performers.

The Stratford Arts Guild will feature its artists in its third annual Festival Stratford art show, Friday through Sunday.

In addition, the festival is taking advantage of the Shakespeare Theatre’s beautiful location overlooking the Housatonic River with daily 8 am yoga classes in the open or under the large tent if raining.

The event will take place rain or shine under a massive white tent in the shadow of Stratford’s beloved theater.

A full calendar can be found at FestivalStratford.com.