SD Shakespeare Festival Presents ‘A Celebration Of Shakespeare’ June 11-18 In Vermillion

New this year are events leading up to the in-park performances:

• Bark with the Bard 5K, Sunday, June 11, at 3 p.m.: A pet-friendly walk/run starting and ending at the Prentis Park Band Shell

• “Shakespeare in Love” Movie, Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m., Coyote Twin Theater

• Shakespeare Trivia, Tuesday, June 13, at 8 p.m., Dakota Brick House

• Adult Shakespeare Improv, Wednesday, June 14, at 8 p.m., Varsity Pub

Interim Artistic Director Rebecca Bailey is thrilled to enter her new role with the SDSF.

"This company, its people, and the community have been such a part of my development as an artist. As the summer starts, we are certain to have new opportunities and pieces to the festival along with some familiar scenes. Our Celebration production is an homage to the work the SDSF has done over the past years,” she said. “As I transition into this new role, I want to remember the wonderful productions we have done and look forward to entertaining new audiences in the years to come.

“This performance is full of some of our favorite scenes from each of our ten past shows. The four actors will take you with them through the ups and downs of some of Shakespeare's most famous moments – each of them a story to remember,” Bailey said. “The events for our festival week remain centered on bringing all of our community together and remembering what it is to pause and connect, sharing the moments and emotions that make us human.”

Christa Cornay will arrive back in South Dakota from her current home in New York City. As an alum of the University of South Dakota, she has watched the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival for a number of years. In New York she is a frequent vocalist at 54 Below and recently participated in a 10th anniversary concert of 35 Millimeter: A Musical Exhibition directed by composer Ryan Scott Oliver.

“I am ecstatic to be joining the crew to celebrate ten years of Shakespeare in South Dakota. It is such a privilege to share this art with Vermillion’s incredible community,” she said. “It’s been six years since I’ve performed in Vermillion, and it’s the greatest joy to be returning for such a special production.”

Lacye Day is making her debut at the SDSF as several ladies from a few of Shakespeare's best, an opportunity that she is excited about: "The audience will see a range of stories. I am thrilled to have the unique opportunity to explore the similarities and differences between each of the characters I get to portray. It will be an interesting journey to find how each of our characters relates to each other. Hopefully, you will be able to find a character that you can relate to," she said.

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THE SOUTH DAKOTA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

The mission of the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival (SDSF) is to engage, connect, and inspire communities by exploring our shared human experiences through inclusive, professional Shakespeare productions and theatre arts education. Company values encompass: access, inclusion, integrity, and artistic excellence.

Since 2012 the SDSF has been producing free, world-class, Shakespeare in the Park, in Vermillion, South Dakota, accompanied by a wide array of education and engagement programming, through partnerships with local and regional schools and organizations. They value diversity and inclusion, and seek to create theatre and build audiences that reflect and nourish the diversity of our communities. Since their inception, and in keeping with their mission, all Festival events are free and open to the public.

To get more information about the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival’s activities for 2021, including dates, times, locations, and details, be sure to visit www.sdshakespearefestival.org or check us out on Facebook.