FREE Theatre In The Parks: Midsommer Flight Presents Shakespeare's As You Like It 7/9-8/28

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MIDSOMMER FLIGHT ANNOUNCES CAST FOR 

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S 

AS YOU LIKE IT, 

A FREE OUTDOOR PRESENTATION 

IN FOUR CHICAGO PARK LOCATIONS, 

JULY 9 – AUGUST 28

 MidsommerFlight_MuchAdo -- Meredith Ernst as Viola, Nick Loumos as Orsino, and Kanome' Jones as Olivia. Photo credit: Zack Whittington.

Midsommer Flight Returns to Lincoln Park, Rogers Park’s Touhy Park and Schreiber Park and Lincoln Square’s Gross Park to Present Free Shakespeare Productions in 2016, Perfect for the Whole Family

Midsommer Flight kicks off its fifth season this summer with the delightful comedy As You Like It, presented outdoors in four Chicago parks. Dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare’s plays, Midsommer Flight is a proud arts partner with the Chicago Park District.

 The 2016 summer production of As You Like It is directed by Midsommer Flight’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf.  As You Like It runs July 9 through August 28, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. 

MidsommerFlight -- Audiences enjoy Macbeth in 2015. Photo credit: Beth Wolf

The performance schedule is:

· Lincoln Park: July 9-10 and August 27-28, located on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. 

· Rogers Park: July 16-17 and 23-24 at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St.

· Rogers Park: July 30-31 and August 6-7 at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. 

· Lincoln Square: August 13-14 and 20-21 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. 

All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented 30 minutes prior to each performance. Music programming varies with each venue, with specific performers being announced at a later date. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.  For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.

Midsommer Flight’s As You Like It features a cast of 15 and original music. When Rosalind is banished by the evil Duke, she and her cousin Celia set out to the Forest of Arden to make a new life, disguised for safety as a brother and sister. As fate would have it, Orlando, whom Rosalind loves, also flees the evil Duke to the Forest of Arden. But disguised as a boy, Rosalind cannot reveal herself to him. Will true love win out? With joyful music, hilarious comedy, and some of the most famous lines ever penned by Shakespeare, As You Like It is sure to delight audiences this summer.

MidsommerFlight_MuchAdo2 -- Alex Mauney as Feste. Photo credit: Tom McGrath

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The cast features Midsommer Flight ensemble members: Adam Habben (Touchstone) and Elizabeth Rentfro (Jaques), the company also welcomes returning guest artists Margaret Kellas (Audrey), Ian Michael Minh (Oliver, Lord, Musician), and Erick Rivera (Amiens).  Newcomers to Midsommer Flight include Emily Demko (Rosalind), Charlee Cotton (Celia), Eric Duhon (Orlando), and more.

The full cast features (in alphabetical order): Charlee Cotton (Celia), Emily Demko (Rosalind), Eric Duhon (Orlando), Richarsd Eisloeffel (Silvius), Adam Gianforte (Le Beau, Lord/Musician, Jaques de Boys), Sonia Goldberg (Corin, Lady at Court), Adam Habben (Touchstone), Margaret Kellas (Audrey, Lady at Court), Maggie Miller (Adam, Oliver Mar-text), Ian Michael Minh (Oliver, Lord/Musician), Alexis Randolph (Phebe, Lady at Court), Elizabeth Rentfro (Jaques), Erick Rivera (Amiens), Shane Roberie (Charles, Lord/Musician), and James Sparling (Duke Frederick, Duke Senior).

Production staff includes Beth Wolf (Director), Robin Waisanen (Stage Manager), Kristina McCloskey (Assistant Director), Beth Laske-Miller (Costume Designer), Elizabeth Rentfro (Music Director/Composer), and Chris Smith (Violence Designer).

MidsommerFlight -- Audiences enjoy Macbeth in 2015. Photo credit: Beth Wolf

ABOUT MIDSOMMER FLIGHT

Midsommer Flight is a Chicago theatre company dedicated to producing outdoor performances of Shakespeare’s plays. After the company’s well-received inaugural production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2012, the Chicago City Council honored Midsommer Flight with a resolution praising “the Midsommer Flight theater troupe on their dedication to bringing the arts to underserved communities.”  The company incorporated as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois in early 2013, and has since produced Romeo and Juliet (2013), Much Ado About Nothing (2014), Macbeth (2015) and Twelfth Night (2015).

Midsommer Flight’s As You Like It written by William Shakespeare and directed by Midsommer Flight’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf, July 9 through August 28, Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The performance run will begin and end at Lincoln Park, with performances on July 9-10 and August 27-28, located on N. Stockton Drive behind the Lincoln Park Cultural Center at 2045 N. Lincoln Park West. 

Additional performances will tour to three other park venues. July 16-17 and 23-24 performances are at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina St., in the southeast grove along Paulina St. July 30-31 and August 6-7 performances are at Schreiber Park, 1552 W. Schreiber Ave., in the field at the corner of Bosworth Ave. and Schreiber Ave. August 13-14 and 20-21 performances are at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave., at the north end of the park along Gunnison St. All performances will be presented free of charge (donations gratefully accepted). In addition, live music will be presented prior to each performance. Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming.  For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.