KILGORE — The Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College will return to the stage June 30 with a collection of historic and up to date performs.
“The 37th season of the Texas Shakespeare Festival will surely bring great joy and delight,” competition Artistic Director Meaghan Simpson mentioned. “ ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘The Tempest’ will remind you of all the reasons there are to love Shakespeare. ‘Nell Gwynn’ will entrance and intrigue you. ‘The Music Man’ will have you dancing and cheering in the aisles, and ‘The Hog Princess’ will bring out the child within.”
Simpson has been creative director since 2020 and has been a forged member in most of the competition’s reveals in addition to working in shut conjunction with competition founder Raymond Caldwell.
The 2022 season, she mentioned, will see the return of the annual forged and crew expertise present and a world premiere staged studying of “Charlotte Collins,” a “hilarious and charming sequel to ‘Pride and Prejudice’ written by TSF alum Grace Abele.”
“I’m particularly excited about the way we will be engaging our community this summer,” Simpson mentioned. “We have hired eight local children and teenagers to play featured roles and ensemble in multiple shows, as well as a local barbershop quartet from the group East Texas Men in Harmony to be featured in ‘The Music Man.’ “
Tickets are available at www.texasshakespeare.com/purchase-tickets .
For information, contact the ticket office at (903) 983-8613 or email [email protected]. Ticket office hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Performances run June 30 through July 31.
‘The Taming of the Shrew’
Performances are June 30, July 7, July 9, July 15, July 17, July 22, July 24, July 28, July 30.
When Shakespeare wrote, “The Taming of the Shrew,” he created one of his most infamous sets of lovers: Kate and Petruchio. Equal parts stubborn and fierce, these two take each other on an explosive journey to discover the love that they both deserve, according to information from the festival. A romantic comedy and classic battle of the sexes, “The Taming of the Shrew” will have you laughing and cheering in the name of love.
“Nell Gwynn”
Performances are July 1, July 8, July 10, July 15, July 17, July 21, July 23, July 28, July 30.
Rising from her roots in the London slums, Nell Gwynn became the 17th century’s most celebrated actress by singing and acting her way into the heart of fellow-actor Charles Hart, as well as King Charles II, according to information from the festival. However, her rapid rise to fame comes with its own dangers. With her family and friends at risk, Nell must decide where her future lies — on the stage or in the palace.
Written by Jessica Swale, “Nell Gwynn” was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and based on the true life of Gwynn.
‘The Tempest’
Performances are July 2, July 8, July 10, July 14, July 16, July 21, July 23, July 29, July 31.
This clever romance by Shakespeare tells the story of the magical Prospero and his daughter Miranda, who are shipwrecked on an island, according to information from the festival. In a reckless rage, Prospero conjures a tempest that inadvertently sends their lives into chaos. To restore peace to his world, Prospero must choose between revenge and forgiveness.
‘The Music Man’
Performances are July 3, July 7, July 9, July 14, July 16, July 22, July 24, July 29, July 31.
When smooth-talking con man Harold Hill arrives in a small Iowa town, he expects to dupe its residents with his elaborate moneymaking scheme: convince everyone that he’s a brilliant bandleader and recruit all the boys to join, pocketing the cash for instruments and uniforms, according to information from the festival. The problem? Some of the citizens, especially the skeptical librarian Marian Paroo, don’t quite buy Harold’s story.
‘The Hog Princess’
Performances are July 20, July 21, July 22, July 23, July 28, July 29, July 30.
Enchantments gone haywire. A kingdom in peril. A prophecy foretold… Audiences of all ages will go hog wild as Paisley and Myrtle, two “she-roes” of distinctive design, are pressured to take issues into their very own fingers with the intention to save the day, based on information from the competition. This unique fractured fairy story journey written by DJ Canaday will go away you squealing for extra because the unlikely duo embarks on an sudden odyssey amidst bridge trolls, hobgoblins, a dude in misery and one very hungry mosquito.
‘Charlotte Collins’
Performance is July 20.
Following the occasions of “Pride and Prejudice,” supporting character Charlotte Collins finds herself thrown into the unexpected role of romantic leading lady as she and her witless husband embark on an adventure to Scotland, according to information from the festival. Trapped in a narrative that’s spinning out of her control, Charlotte discovers that being a romantic leading lady is much more trouble than it seems from the outside — especially with the eyes of an entire audience on her.
Talent Showcase
The annual TSF Talent Showcase will have two performances July 27 in the Van Cliburn Auditorium. A light reception in the theater foyer will follow.
This year’s show is called “Behind the Curtain, A Theatrical Shakespearience.”
TSF Foundation Raffle
Purchase tickets for the TSF Foundation Raffle at a value of $100 per ticket for the prospect to win a visit to Hawaii. Only 350 tickets will likely be offered. The journey contains: round-trip airfare from Dallas-Fort Worth to Kauai, Hawaii; 5 nights on the Aston Islander Hotel; commonplace convertible automobile rental; and $1,000 spending cash.
The drawing will likely be held throughout intermission of the night efficiency July 31.