For the fourth season, the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is bringing Shakespeare to the masses in a live, outdoor theatre setting. With other performances of Shrek the Musical, Cabaret and Songs for A New World, their ADK Summer Playhouse is in full swing.

The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts Artistic Associate Danielle Melendez says, “We are doing MacBeth this year with a twist. This year we shorted the play to an hour and 15 minutes, to its purest form and only using six actors. We have the actors playing Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, but the actors portraying the three witches also play all the supporting roles. The physicality and costumes are only part of the transition.”

I think these performances are a gateway for a younger theatre-going audience,” says Melendez. “It is free where sometimes it’s difficult to afford to go to live theatre. In is also in the Adirondacks and being offered outside. It is isn’t the canoeing or hiking, but a new way of enjoying the outdoors and perhaps theatre for the first time.”

After last year’s successful film experience, the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is once again inviting audience members to help the classic movie Mamma Mia come to life. With live performers and audience participation kits, the film musical ABBA score will be performed with props and chorography.

“I am working with our resident choreographer,” says Melendez. “We will pass out mini-tambourines, confetti and inflatable microphones so people can feel like rock stars as they are watching the film. Last year we did the Dirty Dancing Experience. It was so successful that we wanted to offer a different experience this year and make people feel like they are part of it.”

With all the summer activity, Melendez feels that September is going to be even a better month with a staged reading of Christopher Durang’s play “Beyond Therapy” and special performances in conjunction with London’s The Old Vic Theatre Apprentice Program.

Free Shakespeare in the Adirondack Park Schedule

Wednesday, July 31:
2:00 pm at Raquette Lake (rain site at Raquette Lake School)
7:00 pm: The View, Old Forge (rain site View)

Thursday, August 1:
7:00 pm at Byron Park, Indian Lake (rain site at Byron Park)

Friday, August 2:
7:00 pm at Flanders Park, Tupper Lake (rain site TBD)

Saturday, August 3:
2:00 pm at Newcomb
7:00 pm at Speculator

Sunday, August 4:
at 2:00 pm at Prospect Point, Blue Mountain Lake (rain site The Arts Center)
7:00 pm at Paul Smith’s VIC

Monday, August 5
2:00 pm at Wanakena (rain site SUNY Ranger School)
7:00 pm at Canton Village Green (rain site Fellowship Hall)

Photo of Shakespeare in the Adirondack Park used with the permission of Diane Chase, AdirondackFamilyTime.com