Surf Bard
LA’s Shakespeare by the Sea theatre troupe, funded partially by Rec and Parks, Cultural Affairs and the City Council, returns for its 22nd season to locations throughout the area, including San Pedro, Venice and Pan Pacific Park.
This year’s season features a comedy, The Comedy of Errors, and the drama Henry V. The productions open at Pt. Fermin Park in San Pedro in June. Other City locations include Pan Pacific Recreation Center and the Venice Boardwalk/Recreation Center.
Admission is free.
The City portion of the program’s schedule is:
The Comedy of Errors
A classic Shakespearean romp of mistaken identity: Two young visitors arrive in the city unaware that their long-lost twins already live there. Over the course of a single day, everything that can go wrong does go wrong: a marriage at breaking point, a missing gold chain, an unpaid debt, and a dubious arrest. It’s mischief and mayhem galore!
- At Pt. Fermin Park: June 13-15, 27, 29; July 5; Aug. 17
- Venice Beach Boardwalk/Recreation Center: July 17
Henry V
Shakespeare’s most patriotic and inspiring play tells of a young King Henry V who seeks to unite his beloved England. After laying claim to French lands and being ridiculed, Henry marches off to war. Although sorely outnumbered, Henry rallies his troops and, at Agincourt, achieves a decisive victory.
- At Pt. Fermin Park: June 20-22, 28, 29; July 6; Aug. 16
- At Pan Pacific Recreation Center: Aug. 11
The tour has become a much-anticipated event each summer, drawing an audience of more than 20,000 to enjoy Shakespeare under the summer sky each of the past several years.
Founded in 1998 and funded entirely by donations and grants, Shakespeare by the Sea brings contemporary and classic works to underserved, culturally diverse audiences to ignite imagination, promote literacy and encourage artistic expression. This season’s San Pedro performances are made possible in part by the City’s Cultural Affairs and Rec and Parks Depts., and funds to support the tour have been committed from the Orange County Community Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts Commission and Supervisor Don Knabe.
Bring your friends, pack a picnic and settle in under the stars this summer for Shakespeare’s classic plays. It can get chilly by the sea at Pt. Fermin, so dress accordingly. Bench seating is available, but you are welcome to bring chairs or blankets.
Pt. Fermin Park is at 807 Paseo del Mar, San Pedro. The Venice Recreation Center is at 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice. Pan Pacific Recreation Center is at 7600 Beverly Blvd.
The two productions play for ten weeks in more than 20 venues. For more information and the complete schedule, go to: http://www.shakespearebythesea.org/
