Breath of fresh air: Actors' Theatre of Columbus sets outdoor summer season
If you're a passionate playgoer with an outdoorsy nature, you'll want to mark your calendar for the opening of Actors' Theatre of Columbus ' (ATC) summer season in May.
Unlike most companies, ATC mounts its productions in a theater without walls — an amphitheater where patrons can enjoy al fresco productions that appeal to all ages from kids to adults. Plus, the shows are free, with donations accepted.
The season will begin on a classic note May 22 with "Emma," which offers a witty, feminist spin on Jane Austen's headstrong heroine. Written by Kate Hamill, the romantic comedy will run through June 15.
Another literary masterwork will take the stage from June 19-July 13, with an updated look at "A Midsummer Night's Dream" rife with Shakespearean shenanigans, frolicsome fairies and quarreling lovers.
One of the Bard's most popular and widely performed plays, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was the first production ATC presented when the company began in 1982.
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The summer will continue with "Shane," Karen Zacarias' adaptation of Jack Schaefer's novel. Running July 17-Aug. 10, the play paints a vivid portrait of frontier life in the Old West, where an enigmatic loner becomes a friend and protector of the Starrett family amid a feud between homesteaders and wealthy cattle ranchers.
The season will wind down with a journey into the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons in Qui Nguyen's drama-comedy "She Kills Monsters," which will be performed Aug. 14-31.
All performances will be at 8 p.m. at Schiller Park Amphitheater, 1000 City Park Ave. Attendees can bring picnic dinners, chairs and blankets or reserve a chair, blanket or lounger in advance.
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A workshop for those planning to audition for the summer season will be offered from 2-4:30 p.m. March 16 at the German Village Meeting Haus, 588 S. Third St.
During the session, ATC directors will work with attendees on audition monologues, give feedback and hold a Q&A session about the upcoming season. Registration is $40 per person at bit.ly/4gDBSxF .
Auditions will be held March 22-23 at the German Village Meeting Haus.
For more information about ATC, visit theactorstheatre.org .
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Actors' Theatre of Columbus announces summer season in Schiller Park
