This summer 'Hamlet' on the Guilford Green

Shoreline Arts Alliance Presents Shakespeare on the Shoreline Featuring Legacy Theatre’s Production of Hamlet Shoreline Arts Alliance will engage the Legacy Theatre to bring Shakespeare’s Hamlet to life during the 2018 Shakespeare on the Shoreline Festival. Shoreline Arts Alliance’s and Legacy Theatre’s missions closely align through a mutual desire to enhance the quality of life on the Shoreline through the arts, and both parties look forward to collaborating to bring quality, affordable entertainment to residents on the Shoreline and beyond.

The Legacy Theatre is honored to be partnering for the first time with Shoreline Arts Alliance to produce Shakespeare’s classic tale of revenge on the historic Guilford Green. Legacy’s Artistic Director Keely Baisden Knudsen will direct HAMLET; Jeremy Funke will lead a very talented cast, including a cameo appearance as the Ghost voiced by James Roday (Shawn Spencer of television’s PSYCH). L.A.- based stage and film combat expert, Richard Squeri, will orchestrate the fight choreography.

The Legacy Theatre is pleased to accompany the performances with lectures from cast and staff, as well as a condensed modern version for children to the Shoreline Audiences this summer, and is so grateful to the Shoreline Arts Alliance for this opportunity.

The mainstage performances of Hamlet will be held on the Historic Guilford Green August 1-5 starting at 7:30pm. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, chairs, and picnic dinners to enjoy during the show. Pre-show talks with Knudsen and actors will be held prior to each performance at 6:30pm and will provide insight into the themes, characters, and motifs of Hamlet. Post-show talk backs with cast will take place nightly on the stage after the final curtain. Select mainstage performances and talk backs will include an American Sign Language interpretation (dates to be determined). Nightly accessibility services include Braille and large-print programs, assisted listening devices, increased lighting for exiting the Green, and volunteer escorts to assist those in need of help getting on or off the Green. All events and accessibility services are free of charge.

Other events offered during the Shakespeare on the Shoreline Festival include Round Table Forums to enhance the enjoyment of the mainstage production of Hamlet. In addition, family friendly/sensory friendly performances of Legacy Theatre’s Hamlet Abridged!* will be performed in varying shoreline locations throughout the summer.

(*Special Children's show Hamlet Abridged! presents Shakespeare's classic tale in 45 hilarious minutes. The author's original language is occasionally interrupted by explanation, plot summary, and occasional dramatics as three actors (playing all the roles) endeavor to get to the end of the story. Featuring actors from Legacy Theatre’s mainstage production of Hamlet, this is a perfect introduction to the play and is for children of all ages.) Dates and locations for the Round Table Forums and Family/Sensory friendly performances are TBD.

Email info@LegacyTheatreCT.org to learn how you may sponsor the summer activities!

ABOUT Legacy Theatre:
Legacy Theatre is a professional theatre company that enhances the Connecticut Shoreline’s economy, educational opportunities, and quality of life through live theater and related programs. The Legacy strives to be a premiere Arts house for local artists, professional companies, and to ensure ongoing seasons of uplifting, inspiring, and challenging professional theatre and theatre training for all. Founded by Guilford residents Keely Baisden Knudsen and Stephanie Stiefel Williams, non-profit Legacy Theatre purchased the historic Stony Creek Puppet House in Branford, which will undergo major renovations in the fall. Learn more at www.LegacyTheatreCT.org

ABOUT Shoreline Arts Alliance:
Shoreline Arts Alliance, a Regional Service Organization of CT Department of Economic and Community Development-Office of the Arts, is a 501 (C) 3 organization founded in 1981 to serve individual artists, arts, cultural and heritage organizations, educational institutions, strategic partners and the community-at-large. Shoreline Arts Alliance’s mission is to Transform Lives Through The Arts Through our state wide arts offerings, scholarships, and work as and Arts Council. At the heart of our mission is the desire educate, encourage, enrich and engage and we follow these principles in all that we do. Learn more at www.shorelinearts.org