MSU News Service
BOZEMAN – Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will perform William Shakespeare’s “Richard III”and “The Comedy of Errors” during its upcoming summer tour of 61 communities throughout Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, western North Dakota and eastern Washington.
The company features 10 professional actors selected from national auditions who tour without technical assistance to bring live theatre to mostly rural communities. This summer, 66 percent of the communities reached by the troupe have populations of 5,000 or fewer.
“We are very much looking forward to producing both plays this summer,” said Kevin Asselin, Executive Artistic Director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. “This will be the first time in MSIP’s 44-year history that we’ll bring “Richard III” to our stage. “Richard” will fit right into what is already an active political year, reminding us how Shakespeare stays relevant even 400 years after his death.”
Asselin will direct “Richard III,” while Chris Duval, a University of Utah professor with many credits at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, will direct “The Comedy of Errors,” which the company hasn’t performed since 2002.
All performances, except those at Bozeman’s Sweet Pea Festival, are free and open to the public. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early with chairs, blankets and picnics.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is an outreach program of Montana State University’s College of Arts and Architecture. Grants, corporate sponsorships and hundreds of individual donors support the free performances.
For more information on the plays and a complete tour schedule, visit the company’s website, shakespeareintheparks.org.
Abbreviated 2016 Tour Schedule
Wednesday, June 15– Bozeman, “Richard III” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Thursday, June 16 – Bozeman, “Richard III” – 8 p.m – MSU Grove
Friday, June 17 – Bozeman, “Richard III” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Saturday, June 18 – Bozeman, “Richard III” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Wednesday, June 22 – Bozeman, “The Comedy of Errors” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Thursday, June 23 – Bozeman, “The Comedy of Errors” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Friday, June 24 – Bozeman, MT, Comedy of Errors – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Saturday, June 25 – Bozeman, “The Comedy of Errors” – 8 p.m. – MSU Grove
Monday, July 11 – Chico Hot Springs, Pray, “The Comedy of Errors” – 6 p.m. – Chico main lawn
Saturday, July 30 – West Yellowstone, “The Comedy of Errors” – 6 p.m. – West Yellowstone School football field
Friday, August 5 – Sweet Pea Festival, Bozeman, “The Comedy of Errors” – 4 p.m. – The Hollow at Lindley Park
*Admission is charged to attend the Sweet Pea Festival
Sunday, August 7 – Sweet Pea Festival, Bozeman, “Richard III” – 5 p.m. – The Hollow at Lindley Park
*Admission is charged to attend the Sweet Pea Festival
Friday, September 2 – Big Sky, “The Comedy of Errors” – 5:30 p.m. – Town Center Park
Saturday, September 3 – Livingston, “The Comedy of Errors” – 6 p.m. – Shane Center parking lot
Sunday, September 4 – Bozeman, “Richard III” – 3:30 p.m. – MSU Family & Graduate Housing lawn
Monday, September 5 – Belgrade, “The Comedy of Errors” – 3:30 p.m. – Lewis & Clark Park
Tuesday, September 6 – Manhattan, “Richard III” – 6 p.m. – Altenbrand Park
