Traverse City Record-Eagle

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MORE SHAKESPEARE

"The Taming of the Shrew," presented by Riverside Shakespeare, has several upcoming performances:

• Tonight, July 16, 7 p.m., at Waterwheel Park in Suttons Bay

• Saturday, July 17, 6 p.m. at Memorial Park in Elk Rapids

• Thursday, July 22, at 6 p.m. in Fife Lake's Village Park.

All performances are free.

Related Photos

  • Actors, from left, Jillian Rafa, Elizabeth Laidlaw, Sean Sinitski and Christy Arington will stage "King Lear" for the Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre in Benzie County. Special to the Record-Eagle/Michael Norton

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July 16, 2010

Lakeside Shakespeare has new location

Group spreads the arts through internships

By VANESSA McCRAY vmccray@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — Lakeside Shakespeare Theatre will stage the Bard's classic plays "King Lear" and "As You Like It."

The Chicago-based troupe launched in 2003 with the goal of bringing live theater to Benzie County. This year, performances will take place in a new location at Tank Hill in Frankfort and run from July 28 through Aug. 6.

The ensemble was founded by Frankfort summer resident Elizabeth Laidlaw, an actor and artistic director. Laidlaw hopes to continue to grow the event, reach out to the summer mix of vacationers, cottagers and year-round residents, raise funds for a permanent theater and create "a cultural mecca point."

"It's an ideal spot for a Shakespeare festival," she said.

This summer's lineup features a tragedy and a comedy. Producer Michael Norton said "King Lear" is a difficult play and one of the "great tragedies," and "As You Like It" is another good fit for the ensemble.

"It has this incredibly complex language, and it has (these) really strong female characters in it, too, and our company has an incredibly strong female cast," Norton said.

A staff of about 20 actors, designers and directors make up the Lakeside group, as well as a handful of local student interns. Offering educational opportunities is an important component of its work, Laidlaw said.

"You can't keep the arts alive if you don't keep constantly cultivating an interest in the arts among youth. Performances will occur regardless of weather. Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested.

The park is located at 178 Park Ave. near Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital in Frankfort.

"King Lear" will be performed July 28 and 31 and Aug. 3 and 5. "As You Like It" takes place July 29-30 and Aug. 4 and 6.

All performances start at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit the ensemble's website at www.lakesideshakespeare.org.

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