Shakespeare Pasta Dinner and Show to Benefit 'Festival Stratford! 2011'

In the mirthful The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), three actors take the audience on a fast-paced romp through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in just 93 minutes.

As the excitement grows for this summer’s Festival! Stratford 2011 on the grounds of the landmark Shakespeare Theatre (known as the American Festival Theater), Festival! Stratford, Shakesperience Productions, Inc. and VFW Post 9460 are proud to offer theater enthusiasts and audience members a fundraiser with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Festival! Stratford 2011.

The pasta dinner and show event will take place April 2, 2011 with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7:30 p.m. at VFW Post 9460, 100 Veterans Blvd, Stratford, CT.

This original work of the Abridged series, directed by Artistic Director Emily Mattina, is a farcical smash hit by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield. On April 2 at 6:30 p.m., Nat Angstrom, Justin Harris and Mike Racioppa are back to reprise their performance from the 2010 Festival Stratford that earned them three standing ovations - in the same performance. 

Their deficiencies of gender, race, and (frankly) knowledge of Shakespeare trip them up hilariously along their marathon through the Bard's canon.  Praised by the Los Angeles Times as “Wildly Funny!,” Complete Works was London's longest running comedy.

Tickets for a pasta dinner and the show are $25, available at Stratford's VFW Post 9460 and online at www.shakesperience.org. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Festival! Stratford 2011. 

This year’s festival event is slated for the grove of the Shakespeare Theatre (American Festival Theatre) from August 11-21, 2011. Nearly two weeks of Shakespeare plays, local and regional performances, art and music exhibits, children’s interactive workshops and much more will be offered for audience enjoyment. Additional festival announcements to follow soon as the summer season approaches.

Shakesperience Productions, Inc. (www.shakesperienceproductions.org) is a professional theater company located in Downtown Waterbury, CT that tours throughout the Northeast to both adult and student audience with School and Public Performance Tours, Acting Intensives, Summer Camps, Residencies, Shakespeare in Library Park and the Spring and Fall Festivals of Theatre.

Originally from New Paltz, NY, actor Nat Angstrom earned his BA is Acting/Directing from Oswego State University and has recently appeared in A Christmas Carol and A Midsummer Night’s Dream touring productions.

Justin Harris, originally from the small Chesnee, SC town, is an American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduate with 2 years of Shakesperience experience under his acting belt. Mike Racioppa hails from Utica, NY and Oswego State as well, where he majored in Acting/Directing with a Minor in Arts Management. He has recently toured with Hampstead Stage Company’s productions of A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) celebrates over 100 years of tradition, community service and veterans' service, continuing its rich tradition in enhancing the lives of millions through its community service programs and special projects. The VFW, with its Auxiliaries, includes 2.6 million members in approximately 9,000 Posts worldwide.

From providing $2.5 million in college scholarships to high school students every year, providing free phone cards to our nation's active-duty military personnel, raising money for the World War II memorial, to encouraging elevation of the Veterans Administration to the president's cabinet, the VFW is there--honoring the dead by helping the living.