THIS SUMMER:MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
When and Where:
July 25 - Milton Public Library at Rose
Hill, Milton, PA
July 26 - Elias Center for the
Performing Arts, Mifflinburg, PA
July 27 - Hufnagle Park, Lewisburg, PA
All performances are at 7:00 pm
Milton and Lewisburg performances are FREE
Mifflinburg performance has a $10 charge that goes to the Elias Center
About Gaspipe's Shakespeare in the Park productions:
It had long been a dream for the co-founder Danielle Murphy to bring heightened theatre to north-east Pennsylvania and it was agreed upon by both her and Derek Scott that the best way for the concept such as this to thrive would be through Shakespeare in the Park.
In 2000, the first Shakespeare in the Park, A Midsummer Night's Dream, was produced. For this announcements were made calling out for interested actors, of all levels of experience, to open auditions at Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg, PA. This park would come to serve as a sort of home base for the company's Shakespeare in the Park productions. No matter where else the company performs, Hufnagle will always be the homecoming venue.
The idea of open auditions has been a foruitous one. Scott says, "We've had people audition and recieve parts (major and minor) in said plays. There have been a few occasions where the actors were complete novices. One woman was what you would call an introvert. Our contention is this: if a person can allow themselves the opportunity to reach within and without themselves... to connect with fellow human beings in forms of self expression, let go and act the hero, villain, nobleman, or fool, without actually being such, that person can be an actor, if even for a brief moment in their existence on this planet."
A few individuals who have become full-fledged, longstanging company members as a result of their first Shakespeare auditions are Andrew Shaffer, Pete Zerbe, Ben Hartman, George Casper and Caroline Pogust.
One of the other most unique aspects of Gaspipe's Shakespeare in the Park is the fact that the company travels to various local areas for their productions. Such as Williamsport, Bloomsburg, Selinsgrove, and Milton, are a few of the venues. To some it harkens the days of the famous travelling troubadours and thespians taking the show on the road.
Picture:
Members of Gaspipe Theatre Company: Cain Walters (Sir Andrew Aguecheek), Karen Herschell (Fabian), Andrew Shaffer (Sir Toby Belch) and Joe Frangione (Malvolio) perform a scene from Twelfth Night in three different locations
Top Left: Hufnagle Park, Lewisburg, PA
Top Right: Waterfront Gazebo, Milton, PA
Bottom: Elias Center for the Performing
Arts, Mifflinburg, PA