(VERNON, Connecticut) –Three family-friendly performances of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” are scheduled for Friday July 15 and Saturday July 16 at 6 p.m. and Sunday July 17 at 2 p.m. at Fox Hill Tower at Henry Park. Each free performance lasts about an hour.
The Town of Vernon and Evergreen Family Theater are presenting the performances, which are funded by a crowd sourcing campaign and several sponsors. Last summer, Evergreen Family Theater’s Shakespeare troupe, Fool in the Forest, presented two well-received performances of “Henry V” at the Rockville Public Library.
“The arts enrich our community and make Vernon an even more special place to live, work and visit,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “Expanding arts opportunities and programing is a part of my vision for Vernon.”
“The Tempest” tells the story of Prospero’s magical climb from exile to reclaim his rightful position as the Duke of Milan. Along the way he encounters troublesome spirits, goofy clowns, and his evil brother, Antonio. The play’s themes are family, forgiveness, power and love. To make the play more accessible to those unfamiliar with Shakespeare, there are some musical numbers to help provide the background.
“Our goal is to provide a live, professional performance at little or no cost,” said Terence LaCasse, the producing artistic director. “Not everyone is familiar with Shakespeare, so we are making Shakespeare relatable and fun for the whole family. And we are delighted to be back in Vernon. The response from the community to our performance last summer was spectacular. In fact, we’ve decided to make Vernon our home.”
The play will be performed on the lawn just south of Fox Hill Tower. The iconic tower will loom behind the actors, and the sun will set to the audience’s left.
“Bringing three free performances by professional actors to Henry Park is really special and exciting,” said Amy Watt, Vernon’s Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation. “Henry Park is a magnificent venue for this wonderful event.”
People should bring blankets and chairs to sit on during the performance. And they should be prepared to get involved as LaCasse plans some audience participation in the production. (Blankets in the front, chairs in the back.)
The show will go on in light rain, but will be cancelled if the weather is more severe. Check @EvergreenFamilyTheatreCT on Facebook for updates the day of the show.
People can contribute to the production through a crowdsourcing effort by clicking the link below.
Sponsors of the performance include: Town of Vernon, Rockville Public Library, Swiss Cleaners, Rockville Downtown Association, ServPro of Manchester, UConn Puppetry and Sustainable CT Community Match Program.