Dallas’ Junior Players to present As You Like It

by PegNews wire

Junior Players' summer production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It will feature 23 youth from area high schools, and will have a '60s theme with music, dance, and vibrant costumes. The production will open July 28 at 8:15 p.m. at the Samuell-Grand Park Amphitheater in East Dallas. A total of six free performances will be held July 28 through August 2. The production will be directed by Valerie Hauss-Smith and produced in collaboration with Shakespeare Dallas. Anastasia Munoz is the assistant director.

Inspired by the look of visual artist Shag, Junior Players’ production will infuse the comic tale of mismatched lovers in As You Like It with 1960s city chic, a tropical twist and live music with Sinatra-style crooning and dance. 2009 marks the 19th Junior Players' Discover Shakespeare production. Junior Players' goals are to introduce children and youth to Shakespeare and use the production experience to help the cast make the transition from high school to college and the professional theater community. Director Valerie Hauss-Smith has been most recently seen onstage with Shakespeare Dallas and the Classical Acting Company and has taught for Junior Players since 2002 as well as developing educational programs for Shakespeare Dallas. She has trained with Shakespeare & Company in Massachusetts as well.

Costume designer for Junior Players' production is Bruce R. Coleman. Set design is by JJ Wickham, and lighting designer is Brian McDonald. Choreographer is Anastasia Munoz, vocal director is Luke Dreiling, and sound designer and composer is John Flores.

Junior Players provides arts education and programming completely free to children and youth throughout the city. All performances are free of charge and will begin at 8:15 p.m. The gates open at 7:30 p.m., and people are welcome to bring their own food and beverages.

Source: Junior Players