Project Shakespeare opens its 25th Anniversary Summer Season on Wednesday, August 24 at 6 p.m. with William Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage, “The Tempest.” The performance is at Aldworth Manor,184 Aldworth Manor Road, Harrisville. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 for children [12 and under] and are available at the door beginning at 5:30 p.m.
“The Tempest” tells the story of Prospero, the duke of Milan and a sorcerer, who is cast away on a remote island with his daughter, Miranda through the deceptions of Prospero’s envious brother, Antonio, and co-conspirators. Over a decade later, those responsible have been shipwrecked on the island by Prospero’s magic. Begrudged creatures and drunken clowns, charmed royals and magical spirits alike, all struggle between the temptation for revenge and greed, and the grace of forgiveness and humanity. Deborah Shakespeare Thurber directs The Tempest, Musical Direction by Sarah Wendy Burnam and stage managing is Katie Whitaker.
On Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. Project Shakespeare will hold an opening reception at The Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main Street, Jaffrey. Admission is free; donations are accepted. The evening’s events will include a stage combat demonstration, scenes fr“om “Twelfth Night” and ”The Tempest plus a reading from “King Lear.”
Shakespeare’s popular comedy, “Twelfth Night” opens on Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church as part of a special double bill with The Tempest following at 7:30 p.m.. Double bill discount tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children [12 and under].
Twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria, separated and believing each to be dead. Viola, disguised as a boy, serves Duke Orsino and is sent to woo the Countess Olivia on his behalf. Olivia falls in love with the cross-dressed page while Viola loves Orsino; and mischievous servants play pranks at each other’s expense. Chaos of mistaken identity ensues, finally resolved in marriage as twins and lovers are reunited. Christopher Commander directs “Twelfth Night,” Sarah Wendy Burman is Musical Director as well as stage managing.
Twelfth Night performs:
■Tuesday, July 30 at 6pm at the Oak Park Pavilion, 971 Forest Road, Greenfield
■Thursday, August 1 at 6pm at the First Church in Jaffrey,14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey Center
The Tempest performs:
■Wednesday, July 31 at 6pm at the Fitzwilliam Common [Town Hall in the event of rain]
■ Sunday, August 4 at 6pm at The Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main Street, Jaffrey
See both Twelfth Night and The Tempest on the followingnights:
■ Sunday, July 28 at 4pm and 6:30pm at The Hancock Inn, 33 Main Street, Hancock
■ Friday, August 2 at 6pm and 7:30pm at the First Congregational Church, 6 Payson Hill Road, Rindge
For a complete schedule and to order tickets visit projectshakespeare.org.