Encinitas is proud to be home to Intrepid Shakespeare Company, which brings award-winning, professional talent to our community.
Back by popular demand after a stellar success last year, Intrepid is again performing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Musical” — a crowd-pleasing musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s late-16th century play.
Named “Critic’s Choice” in the U-T San Diego and nominated for two Critic’s Circle Awards, the production will run through Aug.18.
Throughout the performance Shakespeare’s memorable characters careen through romance and magical mishaps in one of the Bard’s most popular works set to musical hits from the 1950s and ‘60s by artists such as The Temptations, Etta James, The Turtles and Sam Cooke.
Sean Cox, one of Intrepid’s co-founders whose brainchild remixes golden oldies with the work of Shakespeare, says of last season’s production, “The show proved to be a celebration, a perfect introduction to Shakespeare and an ideal way to introduce Encinitas residents to the city’s first resident professional theatre company.”
Co-founder Christy Yael adds, “It appealed to both Shakespeare-lovers and those who thought they didn’t like Shakespeare. Through great music and a talented cast supporting one of Shakespeare’s best and most beloved comedies, we were able to open their eyes to how enjoyable, understandable, and accessible Shakespeare can be.”
This year’s remount of the play co-directed by Yael and Colleen Kollar Smith features award-winning actor and comedian Phil Johnson as Bottom and Chicago native Jacquelyn Ritz in the role of Titania.
David McBean returns to the production as a commanding Oberon/Theseus and Kevin Hafso Koppman plays mischievous Puck.
Yael and Cox, both San Diego-based professional actors with extensive experience and a love of Shakespeare, founded Intrepid Shakespeare Company in 2009.
Yael states, “Our goal was to share our passion for Shakespeare and live theatre and to help inspire the next generation of theatre goers and Shakespeare lovers. We wanted to create bold, daring, fast-paced, relevant and intrepid productions of the classics.”
The company’s first season took place downtown San Diego, relocating to Encinitas in 2010 when the company began its theater internship program in partnership with San Dieguito Academy. Dedicating over half of its time and resources towards education, Intrepid has succeeded in bringing live Shakespeare performances to over 35,000 students “as a living, breathing performance form, instead of simply words on a page.”
Yael comments, “Whether performing on stage, teaching A Midsummer Night’s Dream to fifth grade students, leading workshops in A Day of Shakespeare, or mentoring interns through our professional productions, Intrepid artists are committed to making a difference in our community.”
Intrepid’s valuable contribution was acknowledged when its summer theatre camp program was selected to receive a grant through the City of Encinitas and the Mizel Family Foundation Community Grant Program for 2013, which provided scholarships to campers who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate in the program.
Partnering with the San Dieguito Academy Foundation, the company launched a summer of two-week theatre camps for students aged 8 to18, each culminating in a performance. Dubbed “Camp Intrepid,” the program’s mission is to “empower young people to express themselves more fully through art and encourages the spirited pursuit of knowledge, self-discovery and joy through the arts.”
Intrepid’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Musical runs through Aug. 18, with performances Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Clayton E. Liggett Theatre on the campus of San Dieguito Academy, 800 Santa Fe Dr., Encinitas. For tickets and further information call the box office at (888) 718-4253.
To learn more about Intrepid Shakespeare Company visit www.intrepidshakespeare.com or phone (760) 652-5011.
