Press & Reviews

For Immediate Release

Shakespeare Dallas Presents 2009 Summer Season:
The Taming of the Shrew and The Merry Wives of Windsor, TX
Lasso the laughs this summer at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre

Dallas , TX ….June 2, 2009 – Lasso the laughs this summer with Shakespeare Dallas’ Texas-style productions of The Taming of the Shrew and The Merry Wives of Windsor. These two colorful comedies will take center stage at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre this June and July during Shakespeare Dallas’ 38 th summer season.

  • The Taming of the Shrew is a hilarious tale of the battle of the sexes. Baptista Minola, a rich gentleman of Padua, has two daughters – Bianca and Katherine. Sharp-tongued and willful, Katherine seems to terrify men and no one wants to marry her, despite her fortune. Enter Petruchio , a headstrong, obdurate man. It's love at first sight – but can the two reconcile their wild natures and live happily ever after?

“We are setting the play in the middle of the 1800’s on the western frontier, but keeping alive the spirit and spice of a 16 th century Italian comedy – which is a fun, improvisational art form with delightful physical comedy,” said Shakespeare Dallas Executive Director Raphael Perry. “As one of Shakespeare’s most humorous plays, The Taming of the Shrew offers something for everyone.”

The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare, runs June 17 – July 25. Preview performances will be June 17 – 18. Opening Night is June 19 with performances continuing June 30 through July 25 on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays with additional performances June 20-21. All performances begin at 8:15 p.m. at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre. Fridays and Saturdays, admission is $10 adults / $7 seniors and students. Tuesdays – Thursdays and Sundays, a $10 donation is requested. Children 12 and under are always free.

  • The Merry Wives of Windsor, TX, tells the story of Colonel John Falstaff arriving in Windsor, TX to celebrate Veteran's Day in 1965. At the big community BBQ in the town square after the parade and the fireworks, Colonel Falstaff meets Mrs. Page and her neighbor, Mrs. Ford, both of whom manage the money of their households. Falstaff then decides to woo both women and charm them free of their money. But after he writes them a love letter (the exact same letter except for the name of the addressee) the two "merry wives" compare letters and decide to give Colonel John his comeuppance.

“Shakespeare wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor to be a domestic comedy and we’ve stayed true to his vision in this current adaptation,” says director René Moreno. “The setting feels like a small Texas town – with colorful characters that our summer audiences can easily recognize.”

The Merry Wives of Windsor, TX by William Shakespeare, runs June 25 – July 24 . Preview performances will be June 25-26. Opening Night is June 27 with performances c ontinuing July 1 - July 24 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with an additional performance on June 28 . All performances begin at 8:15 p.m. at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre. Fridays and Saturdays, admission is $10 adults / $7 seniors and students. Tuesdays – Thursdays and Sundays, a $10 donation is requested. Children under 12 are always free.

Join Shakespeare Dallas at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre at 7:35 p.m. on designated evenings for the third annual Shakespeare Unplugged StageNotes Series, to learn about the intricate details of the night’s performance.

StageNotes is an adult learning program designed to enrich the educational aspect of Shakespeare Dallas productions. This summer, participants will take an in-depth look at the historical significance of Shakespeare’s text, and gain insight into the overall concept of that evening’s performance. StageNotes: The Taming of the Shrew will take place July 11 and 18; StageNotes: The Merry Wives of Windsor, TX will take place July 10 and July 17. Admission is free.

  • Junior Players and Shakespeare Dallas continue its partnership through the Discover Shakespeare program with a teen production of As You Like It. The Junior Players teen company will conclude the 2009 summer season of Shakespeare in the Park with a week of performances. Junior Players’ As You Like It runs July 28 - August 2 at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre. Performances begin at 8:15 p.m. Admission is free.

Shakespeare Dallas is committed to making arts and culture accessible to everyone. In conjunction with the City of Dallas – Office of Cultural Affairs and Parks and Recreation Department, Shakespeare Dallas will offer a limited number of free tickets to events at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre, to be distributed at Dallas Parks and Recreation Centers .

Samuell-Grand Park features several parking areas near and around the amphitheatre. Attended parking lot areas are $5. There is no charge to park on the street. Shakespeare Dallas members at the $170 and above level receive free parking for all performances.

About Shakespeare Dallas

Shakespeare Dallas is sponsored by: 570 KLIF, 99.5 The Wolf, Advocate Magazine, Brierley+Partners, Carter Public Relations, CBS 11, City of Dallas- Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Dallas Park & Recreation Department, Dallas Morning News, e-Rewards Market Research, TACA, TXA 21, and Visualeyes. Founded in July 1971, the Shakespeare Dallas is dedicated to the cultural enrichment of the community through live, professional productions of superior quality based on the works of William Shakespeare. Visit www.shakespearedallas.org for more information.

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Contact: Andrea Burnett, Carter Public Relations, on behalf of the Shakespeare Dallas

214-360-7813 / aburnett@carterpr.net