Project Shakespeare’s 2023 summer season celebrates 29 years with three shows.
The PS Too! group for ages 5 to 13 presents Shakespeare “Magic & Mayhem,” conceived and directed by advanced Project Shakespeare student LifPetrova and Project Shakespeare founder and director Deborah Shakespeare Thurber. Advanced student Helen Martynuska is the stage manager..
This presentation is a series of scenes and monologues focusing on Shakespearean characters that are magical and create mayhem. Included in this presentation are scenes from “Macbeth,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Tempest,” “Richard III,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” Shakespeare Magic & Mayhem will perform on July 27, 28 and 30.
PS Mainstage (all ages up to 18) will present Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It” directed by Anna Petrova. “All the world’s a stage” as young lords and ladies cast off their courtly conventions to journey to the enchanted Forest of Arden. Disguised heroines and triumphant heroes meet embracing their imagination, releasing their fears and surrendering to love. Samantha Chesney is the stage manager, and Alyssia Maki is the costume manager.
Project Shakepeare’s Summer Company includes Counsel Chronopoulos, Scarlett Castiglioni, Tess Geana, LilliannaHelsel, Sophia Kenney, EleanoraKishinevsky, AriellaLeifer, Seamus Malloy, Helen Martynuska, Benjamin Michaud, LifPetrova, Miranda Pipitone, Emmy Ratcliffe, Faye Ratcliffe, Morgan Ratcliffe, Aram Russell, Jem Russell, Corbin Sanders, Aurora Sousa, Iris Wirein-Rudy and Clara Wirein-Rudy,
PS Advanced students will present the tragedy “Hamlet,” directed by Deborah Shakespeare Thurber. King Hamlet is dead, murdered by his brother, who has claimed his crown and queen. Prince Fortinbras of Norway is gathering an army to avenge his father’s death at the hands of the late King Hamlet and reclaim his stolen lands. Caught between these existential threats is Hamlet, paralyzed by circumstances and mad by his inability to act.
The cast includes Benjamin Michaud as Hamlet; Seamus Malloy as the Ghost and Claudius’ LifPetrova as Gertrude, Indigo Wolf as Marcellus, Laertes, Player King and Guildenstern, Helen Martynuska a Ophelia, Aram Russell as Horatio and Polonius, Harold McCarthy as Bernardo, Rosencrantz, and Player and Aurora Sousa as Cornelia, Player Queen, Gravedigger and Osric. Samantha Chesney is the stage manager.
Performances are as follows:
AYLI – As You Like It
HAMLET
PS Too! Shakespeare Magic & Mayhem
— Thursday, July 27, 6 p.m.: “Magic & Mayhem,” followed by “As You Like It,” Gathering Waters School in Keene.
— Friday, July 28. 6 p.m.” “Magic & Mayhem” followed by “Hamlet,” First Congregational Church, 6 Payson Hill Road, Rindge
— Saturday, July 29, 6 p.m.: “As You Like It,” Dublin Community Church Garden Sanctuary, 125 Main St., Dublin. (Rain date, Saturday, Aug. 5.)
— Sunday, July 30, 6 p.m.: “Magic & Mayhem” followed by “As You Like It,” Jaffrey Civic Center lawn/indoors if rain.
— Tuesday, Aug 1, 6 p.m.: “As You Like It,” New Ipswich Congregational Church, 156 Main St., New Ipswich. (Rain date, Wednesday, Aug. 2.)
Thursday, Aug. 3, 6 p.m.: “Hamlet,” Jaffrey Civic Center lawn/indoors if rain.
Friday, Aug 4, 6 p.m.: “As You Like It,” Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main St., Peterborough.
Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6, 2 p.m.” “Hamlet,” DublinArts & Muse Gallery, 1459 Main St., Dublin
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations are requested. Go to projectshakespeare.org for information and send email to projectshakespeare@gmail.com to make reservations.