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BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
JULY 10-13 at Veteran's Memorial Park in Shelton, CT
JULY 17-20 at Quarry Walk in Oxford, CT
Suggested Donation of $20 Adults | $10 Students
FEATURING
NATHAN CLIFT, SIENA D'ADDARIO,
MATT MANCUSO*, CHRISTIE MATURO*,
JIM MCMAHON, NICK ROESLER*,
THOMAS RUDDEN, TOM SIMONETTI* and ERIN WILLIAMS
STAGE MANAGED BY
KRISTEN L. KINGSLEY*
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
ALLIE NADEAU
TECH DIRECTOR
DAVID WEAVER
LIGHTING DESIGNER
ROB PRIMORAC
PROPS DESIGNED BY
KAI
COSTUME DESIGNER
IVY SWINSKI
MASTER CARPENTER
ANTHONY SIMONETTI
ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGN
TANNER SHUPP
SOUND BY
HORIZON SOUND
ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGN
GWENDOLYN NILES
PUBLICITY BY
JENNY SILENCE
FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY
CARLO RIVIECCIO
SET PAINTER
KAILEY LINDEN
CHOREOGRAPHY
MATT MANCUSO
RUN CREW
LILY BANKS and LEE TORES
ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY TOM SIMONETTI
* Denotes the actor is a member of Actor's Equity - the union for professional Stage Actors and Managers
PERFORMANCE RUNS APPROXIMATELY 1 HR 30 MINUTES with NO INTERMISSION
Valley Shakespeare Festival performs on traditional lands of the Paugussett people who continue to live here today. We offer gratitude and respect to all of the indigenous people of Connecticut, past, present, and future.
The above passage is a land acknowledgement. This is a statement recognizing that the land we all occupy in the course of our daily lives—including our schools, jobs, parks, and homes, as well as the names of towns and roads—was first inhabited by another group of people who were forcibly expelled and murdered. These horrors continue to have devastating political, social, psychological, and economic impacts upon and within Native American and Indigenous communities. For more information and ways to help the Paugussett and other Indigenous people visit www.indian-affairs.org
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DIRECTOR'S NOTE
I am pleased to welcome you to Valley Shakespeare Festival, and our 13th year of FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK!
This year's 13th Shakespeare in the Park production was actually chosen by a young woman who attends many performances with her family. Who inspired us after our annual A Christmas Carol performance. In our traditional talkback - I had admitted to the audience that I had not yet picked our summer production, but it was between a tragedy and a comedy - but both were written around 1599...
This young woman's hand shot up and she suggested, in our current time, that a comedy would be better...and thus, secretly in my mind, As You Like It was decided on.
The story of As You Like It opens with violence inflicted by Duke Frederick, who banishes his niece Rosalind and separates families. As Rosalind, her cousin Celia, and the Royal Clown flee to the Forest of Arden disguised, because like today, it is still dangerous to be a woman in the world #believewomen -- they seek Rosalind's father but stumble into a romantic adventure instead. Shakespeare explores relationships in a way that resonates across time, capturing the uncertainty of attraction and the journey toward love. Who can forget his famous monologue, "All the World's A Stage"?
Through processing this play, since the beginning of this year, I have to tell you dear reader how every year without fail, the themes and social problems that Shakespeare writes about become increasingly apparent in these plays during our two week rehearsal period, and as the news cycle continues. Also every year, I learn something new. This year, we need to sometimes be pushed out of our comfort zone in the face of adversity.
And let's be honest: the theater scene is facing some harsh realities, with the "Duke Fredericks" of the world making it difficult for many arts companies to survive. Yet, like the quirky ensemble in the Forest of Arden, we'll keep pushing forward with our Free Theatre, and also providing first-time experiences for audience members as we did on Tour this spring with Much Ado About Nothing by going to schools, libraries, and the Spooner House.
Like Rosalind, I hope you will join me in fighting for love and community. Thank you to the young woman who inspired this choice, and I hope that you enjoy tonight's journey through the Forest of Arden - and the eclectic music choices!
There is truly something for everyone in the Forest of Arden!
Sincerely,
Tom Simonetti
CHARACTERS YOU WILL MEET
CHEAT SHEET
By Art Brennan (Board Member, Valley Shakespeare Festival)
If you’ve ever thought your family was complicated, wait until you meet the folks in As You Like It!
To help you follow As You Like It, we have provided you with this “cheat sheet” to assist you in keeping the plot and characters straight. Feel free to check off each event as it happens!
Act I - Everybody Out
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The evil Duke Frederick exiles his brother, Duke Senior. Duke Senior heads to the Forest of Arden.
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The clever Rosalind, daughter of Duke Senior, is allowed to stay behind since she is so close to her cousin, Celia, daughter of Duke Frederick.
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A young lord named Orlando (who is mistreated by his brother Oliver) wins a wrestling match against a professional wrestler named Charles. Orlando meets Rosalind - and is instantly smitten!
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Duke Frederick is suspicious of the victory and exiles Rosalind. Celia goes with her cousin. Where do they end up? The Forest of Arden, of course.
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Rosalind disguises herself as a young man named Ganymede. Celia disguises herself as Aliena, a shepherdess.
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The two women drag Touchstone, the court fool, along with them for…laughs and company.
Act II - This Is A Crowded Forest
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Lo and behold, Orlando has fled to The Forest of Arden as well, fearing for his life after the wrestling match. He has fallen head-over-heels for Rosalind.
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Orlando staples bad love poetry all over the trees of the forest.
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Duke Senior has gathered a group of merry men in the forest to hang out with.
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Ganymede bumps into Orlando in the forest. Ganymede decides to help cure Orlando of his love sickness by pretending to be Rosalind (which, of course, Ganymede IS Rosalind).
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Rosalind discovers the deep feelings Orlando has for her.
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Touchstone falls for a country girl named Aubrey and begins reciting love poetry (which may be worse than Orlando’s love poetry).
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A lovesick shepherd named Silvius has fallen for a local girl named Phoebe. Unfortunately, Phoebe has already fallen for Ganymede.
Act III - "All You Need Is Love"
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Orlando is in love with Rosalind.
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Rosalind loves Orlando while pretending to be Ganymede.
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Phoebe loves Ganymede (who is actually Rosalind)
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Silvius loves Phoebe
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Touchstone loves Aubrey
Act IV: Wedding Talk
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Ganymede promises to marry Phoebe, who agrees to marry Silvius if she can’t marry Ganymede.
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Phoebe sends a secret love letter to Ganymede…via Silvius!
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Silvius still loves Phoebe.
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Even the trees in the forest are confused at this point
Act V: Weddings!
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Ganymede reveals that he is Rosalind. Orlando is thrilled.
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Rosalind marries Orlando
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Phoebe agrees to marry Silvius since Ganymede is... well... a dude!
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Touchstone marries Aubrey.
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Duke Frederick has had a religious conversion and invites everyone back from exile.
WHO'S WHO
SPONSORS
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DONORS
A HUGE Thank You to these Individuals and Businesses - who support a theatre for all. To our Anonymous Friends who donated, or anyone who was not included at the time our program was printed! We see you, and we Thank You!
Lenny Adams
Lisa Adriani
Susan Agmy
Dani Aldrich
Heidi Allen
Donald Andersen
Ellen Apicerno
Barbara A Badela
Patti Bailey
Vanessa Bailey
Raymond Baldelli
AmandaGraham Barr
Diane and Dan Behler
B A Benedict
Erin Bennedum
Bob Bodall
Rebecca Borowik
Francis from North Dakota
Randall Branchcomb
Amy Brejwo
Arthur Brennan
Laura Brennan
Rose Brennan
Victoria Brennan
Christine Brennan
Daniel Brophy
Phoebe Browning
Jeaneen Buchanan and Joseph Hoefflinger
Tammy Burrell
Harriet Calkins
Juliana C Capinera
Matthew Catalano
Roland Coffey
Country Creamery Ice Cream Parlour
Sheila and Brian D’Angelo
Brian D'Angelo
Florian & Kevin De Raccoon
Joseph DiMaggio
Nicholas Di MariaD
iane DiMarco
Tommy DiMarco
The Dunn Family
Tim Faherty
Linda Flaherty
Carol and Hugh Fullman
Lisa Giaquinto
Cynthia Giancaspro
Cheryl Groesbeck
Virginia Harger
Brendan Hawk
Daniel Herman
Colin Hoch
The Horan Family
Carol Horsford
Eric Hudson
Lisa and Dan Hurlbert
J.D. Iezzi
Iezzi Family
Greg Iezzi
Marissa Iezzi
Margaret J Kruse
Scott Jackson
Adam James
Joshua James
Jamison Jedziniak
JM Property & Improvements LLC
Timothy Kane
Jordan Kaplan
Joan Kayser
Mary Keegan
Helen Keegan
Sue Kim-Ichel
Kristen Kingsley
Margaret Kruse
Joe Kusnitz
Frank LaDore
Joe Landry
Lisa Lapidus
Mary Ellen LaRocca
Bonnie Longley
Mary Keegan
Margaret Kruse
Margaret M.Kruse
Eileen & Joe Mancuso
Matthew Mason
Mark and Candy Mazur
Killian Meehan
MaryAnn Myer
Minardi Family
Sharon Moore
Kathy Moran
Denise Morrissey
Sammi S. Naclerio
Stephanie Niles
Jen and Andy Nivison
Brandon O'Brien
Kathleen O'Keefe
Anne Olcott
Alia O’Neill
Brodey Ott
Caeley Ott
Meredith Packer
Joseph Pagliaro
Belinda Pagliaro
Vanessa Paredes
Pete Pereira
Monica Peterson
Katy Petiford
Kate Pipa
Katha Pollitt
Purvis
Donna Quine
Alicia Ribas
Emily Roberson
Adrián Rodríguez
Elevate Therapy CT
Luis and Anthony
Joseph and Cathy Rossi
Helen Samoskevich
Brian Schacht
Paul Schillace
Sarah Schinis
Melissa Simonetti
Deborah Simonetti
John Simonetti
Anthony and Janice Simonetti
Lauren Sittard
Sandra T Stein
David Stewart
Beth Sugerman
Carla and Sean Sullivan
Carrie Sullivan
Michelle Schwarz
Mike Traum
William Valenti
Patricia Walker
Krissy Warrenger
Joe and Diane Wirtemburg
Lenore Wszolek
Samantha & Gregory Wyman
Kathleen & Norman Yolish
THANK YOU
The City of Shelton
Joan Stokes and the Shelton Public Library Staff
Shelia Torta Secretary to the Mayor of Shelton
Mayor Mark Lauretti
The Shelton Board of Aldermen
The Shelton Board of Apportionment and Taxation
The Staff of the Shelton Parks and Recreation - Community Center
Kathy Ekstrom and Staff at Haynes
Quarry Walk Staff!
and for those who have been with us from the beginning... Thank You for allowing the classics into the community.
