For immediate Release – Pittsburgh, PA
Eight Days Celebrate William Shakespeare’s 451st Birthday
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ 11th season kicks off with its inaugural WEEK OF WILL, eight days of live and online events in the spirit of the company’s free outdoor events since 2005. Celebratory dinners, indoor and outdoor performances, a twitter party, and online scavenger and trivia contests will engage Shakespeare fans of all ages around William Shakespeare’s 451st birthday observed on April 23.
Week of Will begins with PSIP’s annual fundraising dinner MID-SPRING REVELS at Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville on Mon., April 20, offering drinks and appetizers and Silent Auction beginning at 6:30 pm and dinner and dessert beginning at 7 pm. Entertainment and a silent auction are highlights. Proceeds benefit the company’s annual free admission Shakespeare production, KING LEAR, one of the Bard’s most personal and compelling tragedies staged in city parks over four week in September.
Dinner guests will be the first to preview the 2015 PSIP “yinzer”-themed t-shirt, inspired by
Last season, the company’s “As Yinz Like It” shirt was a successful fundraiser and Yinzer-themed items are now on sale via the web site store.
Directed by Jeffrey Chips, KING LEAR will feature Ron Siebert, seen in productions on Broadway, regionally, and in television, in the title role. Cast members will include PSIP Artistic Director Jennifer Tober, most recently seen as Rosalind in PSIP’s AS YOU LIKE IT, 2014. All will be featured during Week of Will events, with Siebert as headliner at the dinner.
“We love Lawrenceville, and we love Piccolo Forno,” says Tober. “This is an excellent opportunity for our supporters and patrons to come out, eat delicious food, drink wine with us, and support free Shakespeare in the Steel City.”
Mid-Spring Revels tickets are $65 in advance and $75 at door. Contact jtober@pittsburghshakespeare.com or order via the website to purchase a ticket.
WEEK OF WILL continues with:
- Scavenger Hunt all week via social media all week at #findwillpgh, with finale and prizes on Sat., April 26.
- Pop-Up Shakespeare, Mellon Square Park, downtown, Tues., April 21, noon-1 pm.
- Bard’s Birthday Bash, hosted by Poets Corner, Calvary UM Church, Allegheny West, Wed., April 22, 7-9 pm. PSIP players and Yvonne Hudson, hosting as Mrs Shakespeare, are joined by colleagues from Poor Yorick’s Players, South Park Shakespeare, Unrehearsed Shakespeare Project, Steel City Shakespeare Center, and the improvisational troupe Amish Monkeys. Refreshments include birthday cake by Mexican War Sweets. This is a pay-what-you-will admission, with donation of any amount requested.
- ON SHAKESPEARE’S 451st BIRTHDAY, APRIL 23: Shakespeare Statue Tribute, featuring Yvonne Hudson as Mrs Shakespeare, Carnegie Music Hall Statue, Forbes Ave., Oakland. Thurs., April 23, 12:15-1 pm. Cookies by Mexican War Sweets.
- Shakespeare Happy Hour, featuring Jennifer Tober, Franktuary, Lawrenceville, Thurs., April 23, 5-7 pm. Bard-themed specialty hot dog and cocktail proceeds benefit PSIP.
- Twitter Party, Social at Bakery Square, hosted by Jeff Chips, 7-8 pm, Fri., April 24. @WOW15PGH
- Shakespeare Trivia Contest, Sun., April 27, on PSIP social media all day long.
- BYOB “Bring Your Own Bard” Reading Night, featuring “Shakespeare’s Murders”, Te Cafe, Squirrel Hill, Mon., April 27, 7:30-9 pm. All guests and hosts reading some of the Bard’s most villainous characters.
- Details on all events at pittsburghshakespeare.org. www.pittsburghshakespeare.org
Events are free unless otherwise noted. Social hashtag for Week of Will 2015: #WOW15PGH
ABOUT KING LEAR, September 2015
KING LEAR continues Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ tradition of offering FREE performances in numerous city parks on Saturdays and Sundays during September 2015. The company kicks its second decade with its 11th season, opening Sat., Sept. 5. KING LEAR tells the story of an aging, ailing king who is cast aside by his three daughters.
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is in its 11th year of providing free Shakespeare in Pittsburgh city parks.
Bringing you free Shakespeare since 2005.
Bring a blanket, a loved one, and a thermos.
Friend us on Facebook: PittsburghShakespeare or @PghShakespeare
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Media contacts:
Yvonne Hudson, New Place Collaborations
yvonne@newplace.us
412.512.0589
OR
Jennifer Tober
Artistic Director, Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks
412.404.8531 jtober@pittsburghshakespeare.org