The Tempest June 26, 2008

After a 100% sold out season in 2007, Artistic Director Christopher Gaze is pleased to announce that Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival will extend the run of the Mainstage season for an additional week in 2008. New Festival dates are May 29 to September 27, 2008. In addition to providing more general tickets, the extension will permit additional fall Student Matinees to meet increasing school demand.

Comedy and tragedy are dramatically paired in the Festival’s two performance tents. The larger Mainstage tent will feature the light-hearted romance TWELFTH NIGHT, staged by long-time Bard actor and director, David Mackay (Troilus and Cressida, 2006). It will play in repertory with Shakespeare’s great tragic drama, KING LEAR, directed by another Bard veteran, the ever-innovative James Fagan Tait (Timon of Athens, 2007). Christopher Gaze features in the title role. In the intimate 240-seat Douglas Campbell Studio Stage tent, the magical comedy THE TEMPEST will be directed by well-known actress and sound designer, Meg Roe, making her directorial debut. Rounding out the Studio Stage program is the bloody revenge drama, TITUS ANDRONICUS, directed by Kim Collier, co-Founding Director of the Electric Company.

Twelfth Night is Shakespeare’s hilarious tale of cross-dressing, misplaced affections and mischievous hoaxes. In King Lear, a foolish error in judgment unleashes a torrent of greed, cruelty and madness. Set on an enchanted island, The Tempest is a magical tale of romance, vengeful plots, and reconciliation. In Titus Andronicus, a bloody spiral of revenge, violence and murder result when a plea for mercy is rejected.

Run dates and Special Events are as follows:
Twelfth Night – May 29 to September 27, (Mainstage tent)
King Lear – June 11 to September 26, (Mainstage tent)
The Tempest – June 26 to September 20, (Studio Stage tent)
Titus Andronicus – July 9 to September 19, (Studio Stage tent)
Shakespeare Forum: Threat to Order – SFU’s Dr. Paul Budra leads a discussion of themes in this year’s plays: July 7
Bard-B-Q & Fireworks – Play and Salmon Barbecue followed by Celebration of Light Fireworks: July 23, 26 & 30, Aug. 2
Celebrating Red & White – Play plus Wine Tasting either before or after the show: August 16
A Merry Evening of Opera – Members of Vancouver Opera Orchestra and UBC Opera Ensemble: Aug. 25, Sep. 1 & 8

Western Canada’s largest professional Shakespeare company, Bard on the Beach presents its festival in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park adjacent to Vancouver’s downtown core. The productions are staged in open-ended tents on the waterfront against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky. Performances run Tuesdays through Sundays. Evening curtain is at 8:00 pm, except Sunday evenings and in September when it is 7:00 pm. Matinees are scheduled on selected weekends and weekdays. Play ticket prices are $33.00 (evenings) and $18.00 to $27.50 (previews & matinees) including taxes. Tickets go on sale March 17.

The performance schedule and information can be found on the Bard website at www.bardonthebeach.org. For more information and tickets, call 604-739-0559 or toll free at 1-877-739-0559, or order on-line through the website.

Bard on the Beach gratefully acknowledges Season Sponsor: Starbucks and Production Sponsors: Vancity, Jaguar/Land Rover, RE/MAX and Weyerhaeuser. Media sponsors are The Vancouver Sun and Global Television. Calona Vineyards is Official Winery and Rogers Chocolates is Official Ice Cream. Bard also thanks the City of Vancouver and the BC Arts Council for their support.

Official Website: http://www.bardonthebeach.org