Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at Riverbank State Park in Harlem
Shown (left to right) RAUSHANAH SIMMONS (as Viola) and R. J. FOSTER (as her twin Sebastian) in the Harlem Summer Shakespeare production of Twelfth Night. Photo credit: Justin Richardson
The Pulse Ensemble Theatre returns to Riverbank State Park with it’s 4th annual Harlem Summer Shakespeare production. The multi-ethnic, open air production of William Shakespeare’s comedy “TWELFTH NIGHT” is FREE to the public on a first come, first served basis and is a feature of Harlem Week. The performances, Thursdays through Sundays at 8 PM (until August 24th), will be in the park’s newly-renovated Amphitheater overlooking the Hudson River in Riverbank State Park. Audience members are invited to bring their own seat cushions.
The company’s productions are known for updating the visual aspect of the plays while keeping Shakespeare’s language intact. “The goal is to excite and entertain a non-theatre going audience, and inspire them with the limitless possibilities of live theatre”. Their first three seasons included critically acclaimed productions of THE TEMPEST, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and ROMEO AND JULIET where Lord and Lady Capulet danced to Marvin Gaye and Romeo first spied Juliet as she danced to The Black Eyed Peas!
Set in today’s New York City, TWELFTH NIGHT also uses Shakespeare’s language unchanged. We find Duke Orsino, played by Sean Fredericks, is partial to the music of Led Zepelin while Sir Toby (Richard Vernon) and Sir Andrew ((Mark Hilgers) like reliving their heyday back at Studio 54. Lady Olivia (Annie Paul) practices yoga while Feste the clown (David McLellan) is a modern day Busker. This production of TWELFTH NIGHT is loosely inspired by image-conscious New Yorkers obsessed with their fitness rituals”.
For additional information call (212) 695-1596 or go to www.pulseensembletheatre.org.
Directions: Take Local #1 subway to 145th Street & Broadway, walk one block east to Riverside Drive and straight into the Park. Walk towards river to Amphitheatre.
Bus: Take M11 (until 7 PM) and BX 19 directly into Riverbank State Park. Then walk east towards river to the Amphitheatre.
The Harlem Summer Shakespeare Project invites young people from the Harlem community to work with the professional acting company, and also offers free acting workshops.