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This year’s South Dakota Shakespeare Festival is bigger and better than ever, say organizers. The event, which runs June 11-18, kicks off this Sunday at the Prentis Park Band Shelter and this year includes more activities leading up to the performances.
This year’s kick off event is “Bark with Bard,” a 5k walk/run that is pet friendly. The event will begin and end at the park and will take participants on a route around Vermillion accompanied by Shakespeare fellows and enthusiasts of course!
Monday, June 12, don’t miss a showing of the movie, “Shakespeare in Love” at the Coyote Twin Theater at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 13, enjoy a great night of Shakespeare Trivia at the Dakota Brick House at 8 p.m.
Wednesday, June 14, meanwhile, practice those acting skills and get ready for Shakespeare with Adult Shakespeare Improv at the Varsity Pub, starting at 8 p.m.
Thursday, June 15, special guest artist Devon Glover, “The Sonnet Man,” performs at 7 p.m. in Prentis Park. Glover is a Brooklyn-based rapper, teacher, poet, playwright and actor who produces hip-hop adaptations of Shakespeare’s sonnets for performance and workshops in schools and theaters worldwide as “The Sonnet Man.” Glover has appeared on NBC, MSNBC, BBC, The Today Show, and at conferences and Shakespeare Festivals worldwide, including Stratford, Ontario and Stratford-upon-Avon. He has taught with Stratford Shakespeare, Passion in Practice, Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Southern Shakespeare.
As “The Sonnet Man,” Glover delivers sonnets as originally written, and then breaks them down into spoken word. Glover’s flow embodies the richness of Shakespeare’s language, and his passionate, yet natural delivery offers an inspiring, creative experience audiences love.
In addition to performing on Thursday, Glover will also hold a free workshop at the Vermillion Public Library from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on June 15. Register on the library’s website.
Other educational opportunities for kids and youth are available. Check out the SD Shakespeare website for more information and to register.
Of course, the main event for the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival will be the outdoor performances in the park. This year, the SDSF’s Acting Company will perform a devised production based on scenes from the festival’s previous 11 seasons.
“This company, its people and the community have been such a part of my development as an artist,” says Interim Artistic Director Rebecca Bailey. “As the summer starts, we are certain to have new opportunities and pieces to the festival along with some familiar scenes. Our celebration production is an homage to the work the SDSF has done over the past years. … This performance is full of some of our favorite scenes from each of our ten past shows. The four actors will take you with them through the ups and downs of some of Shakespeare’s most famous moments – each of them a story to remember. The events for our festival week remain centered on bringing all of our community together and remembering what it is to pause and connect, sharing the moments and emotions that make us human.”
Actor Christa Cornay will return to South Dakota from her current home in New York City to be part of the production. As a graduate of the University of South Dakota, she has watched the SDSF for a number of years. In New York, she is a frequent vocalist at 54 Below and recently participated in a 10th Anniversary concert of “35 Millimeter: A Musical Exhibition” directed by composer Ryan Scott Oliver.
“I am ecstatic to be joining the crew to celebrate 10 years of Shakespeare in South Dakota,” said Cornay. “It is such a privilege to share this art with Vermillion’s incredible community. It’s been six years since I’ve performed in Vermillion, and it’s the greatest joy to be returning for such a special production.”
Actor Lacye Day is making her debut at the SDSF as several ladies from a few of Shakespeare’s best, an opportunity that she is excited about.
“The audience will see a range of stories. I am thrilled to have the unique opportunity to explore the similarities and differences between each of the characters I get to portray,” said Day. “It will be an interesting journey to find how each of our characters relates to each other. Hopefully, you will be able to find a character that you can relate to!”
Performances will take place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 16-18, at 7 p.m. in the park. Check out www.sdshakespearefestival.org for more information. In partnership with the National Music Museum, Paul Imholte will provide pre-show music on Friday, June 16 starting at 6:30 p.m.
