PLAY 

OUTSIDE!

2010 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS 

for: "The Shakespeare You Wanna SEE!" 

"Summer's lease hath all too short a date" (Sonnet 18). 

R U Shakesperienced?  Join the hundreds and hundreds who know why we are called The Iowa Shakespeare EXPERIENCE! 

Exercise your "Rite of FREE Will"! 

  •  Our FREE WILL Festival includes a terrific Festival experience: ample convenient FREE parking, hassle-less FREE theatre (NO TICKETS REQUIRED!), FREE FULL VIEW of the stage (there's simply not a bad seat in the house!), FREE river breezes, and glorious mosquito-FREE European-style Festival grounds! 

 

You won’t want to miss:

  •  2010 MAINSTAGE PLAY: Friday, July 16 – Tuesday, July 20 (see full festival schedule and shows for more info!)  Grounds open for picnicking and special activities at 6 pm, “Curtain” is 8:15 pm nightly– the very moment the sun drops down behind the skyline! 
  •  2010 Mainstage Play:  the extraordinary “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Extravaganza” by William Shakespeare with live music and sizzling dance!  It’s all the Shakespeare you remember- performed in a gorgeous way you never will forget!  An ISE exclusive, this play is stunning: by W. Shakespeare with adaptation by L. Sandoval, MFA.

 

  • FANTASTIC FESTIVAL CONCERTS:  Featuring pre-show and intermission appearances by the Des Moines Big Band and Jazz-in-July, and by the incomparable Belin String Quartet. NIGHTLY intermission bites by the Metro's HOTTEST singers (the iconic Tina Haase Findlay with special guest sensations Fred Gazzo and Max Wellman) we have one extraordinarily cool line up!  Check out our detailed schedule for the full schoop, but whatever you do- be sure to Get Thee to All This Funnery!

 

  •  As always, 2010 Mainstage plays feature top area artists –stars of the stage, music and  dance! Historically, our shows have averaged 3-4 MFA or conservatory artists per show, plus an equal amount or more otherwise professionally degreed theatre artists. 
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  •  We offer Raindate options and almost always a Rain Location: See FAQs - -and if weather threatens, be sure to check this website or call 515 274 8989 for more information.  Because we don’t let it rain on our parade- come to the “Secret Castle” – and picnic indoors!  Our rain locations are TERRIFIC – and there simply isn’t a more romantic way to weather out a summer storm!

 

  •  "On - the - Spot" Picnic with Panache! Contest fun: We brake for Candelabras! While certainly not required, the "delightfully wicked" tradition of elegant picnics (think gourmet recipes, fine china and linens, or other fine accoutrements...) and/or upscale picnic attire and "themes" is happily encouraged. And why not! Come in your best floppy hats, summer frocks, or seersucker and white bucks! Or toss on some fabulous Renaissance attire - or oh heck - -bring men in tights! You'll have fun regardless- but for extra humor or over-the-top elegance, you just might catch our judge’s eye- and win an "on the spot" seating upgrade to our premiere VIP seating area! FAQs will tell you more!

 

  •  "Make red with Mirth!" Gather friends and make a party of it! At the Festival, rent VIP Picnic area, our Premiere Lounge in the Plaza, or VIP party tents – all yours for modest fee!

 

  •  AND OUR 2010 FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE:  Family Night with nationally-published Iowa Author Cynthia Mercati, who will be reading from her latest children’s book: “Shakespeare and Me”.  (Monday, July 19.)

 

  •  Lots of Great Festival Amenities! Gourmet British picnic food< Jasper Wines to purchase specially selected by The Wine Club. Scrumptious Gelato from Chocolaterie Stams!  And since this is Central Iowa’s first Shakespeare Festival taken to scale, don't miss a chance to say "I was there!" Pick up one of our inaugural Festival T-shirts by our Festival’s first commissioned artist, James Hamilton.  And be sure to grab a copy of our first commemorative Festival Poster! By nationally-collectible artist John Sayles, this high quality 4 color print on top quality art paper is a beaut- and with only 150 copies (even fewer signed copies), these gorgeous slices of cultural life will go fast fast fast! 

 

Many Extra Special Festival Events:

Don't miss a thing! See the full festival schedule for much more information about the following great activities: 

 

-Our FREE Opening Night Director's Talk in the Plaza, with ISE Artistic Director Lorenzo Sandoval, MFA. (July 16); 

 

-Our FREE Summertime "Sonnet Slam!" and audience "Talk-back"! Take the stage after the show with the actors and linger in the cool riverside summer night! (July 16)

 

-Our VIP Pre-show Wine Soiree! “The King doth keep his revels here tonight!” Before the show, join community and Festival leaders to enjoy elegant nibbles and intimate chats with some of our artists. Tickets may be purchased in advance (just contact us) or at the Gates. (July 18) 

 

-Our FREE Family Night Activities: Exclusive Iowa Author Book Signing! Special Guest appearance of nationally-published Iowa Author Cynthia Mercatti, who will be reading her newest children’s book: Shakespeare and Me”.  Check out the book for sale, and be sure to get your autograph!  (July 19)

 

 

 -Our FREE Guest Dramaturg Talks (Schedule tba). Explore intriguing scholarly views and fascinating tidbits about Shakespeare and this summer's works. 

 

-Our FREE Nightly international features, hosted by multi-cultural groups presenting our Shakespeare’s World Scholars Talks (some bilingual! – schedule tba)

 

 

NIGHTLY: Swing on a Star and Carry Moonbeams Home in a Jar:  Nightly during Intermission, Shakesperience presents a rare chance to see all three of the Metro’s most legendary crooners on one stage – in one single glorious Moonlit Medley.  Intermission Bites with the inimitable Tina Haase Findlay and her special guests  Max Wellman and Fred Gazzo, these 3 performers are taking the city by storm - - and each night at Shakesperience Fest, will perform what has to be THE best single slice of summer available under the stars: our original medly of THE most romantic summer songs ever.  Think Bing, Nat, or Billie did the definitive versions of these evocative classics?  Wait til you hear ours! 

 The line up for the Swing on a Star Medley, and its companion Medley, Carry Moonbeams home in Jar, features these extraordinary performers singing their hearts out with:

  •  Moonlight Sonata
  •  Moonlight Seranade
  •  Moonlight and Roses::
  •  I wished on the Moon 
  •  Moonlight Becomes You 
  •  You’re a Heavenly Thing
  •  Moonglow
  •  Stardust

 

 

 

 

 

PLUS... 

COMING SATURDAY, JULY 17 : SPECIAL YOUNG PROFESSIONAL'S NIGHT and RIVERSIDE CAST PARTY: 

Includes all of the below- 

 

  • Young Professionals Pre-Party: Right before the show, come up on stage to enjoy the river and the skyline as you never have before! Its an on-stage Cocktail party for networking, socializing – and a chance to talk intimately with some members of the cast!  You will enjoy wines and beer from Jasper Winery, and pizza from Lucca’s newest venture!  A very small fee includes drink tickets --and will help benefit the Festival! No advance tickets required. 

 

  • FREE Jasper Wine Tasting night in our Plaza: Discover a new favorite with this terrific local winery! 

 

  • FREE Grey Market Mini-Fair in our Plaza: Explore a select group of hand-made and unique wares from some of the Metro's hottest up-and-coming designers of jewelry, clothing and art! Sip your favorite wine as you have a chance to meet the artists during a leisurely browse through this intimate "trunk show" of enticing, artisan treasures.  A huge hit last year, the Mini-Fair promises to double in size this year!

 

 

COMMUNITY-WIDE FESTIVAL EVENTS:

DON’T FORGET – THE ISE FESTIVAL STARTS UP IN JUNE WITH OUR FANTASTIC YOUTH WORKSHOPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS JUNE THROUGH JULY:

 

"THE BILL'S ON WILL"; a special pre-festival event: returning in June 2010, a shopping extravaganza in the East Village with Bill Shakespeare himself- -special prizes if you spot him! 

DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL: Watch for the FREE World Premiere of teasers from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Extravaganza” on the performing arts stage at the Des Moines Arts Festival on July 28!

FREE  PUBLIC LIBRARY YOUTH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT JULY!  All across the Metro, Kids, Teens and Adults alike love our copyrighted “Mid Summer Day DreamsTM” workshops - this year, we are quadrupling our offerings to multiple library branches in suburbs as well as cities! Check www.pldminfo.org or your own local library branch!  Featuring our trademarked Mid Summer Day DreamsTM curriculum.. Check www.pldminfo.org or your own local library branch for a complete schedule. 

DES MOINES SENIOR COLLEGE CLASSES:  Our series of 4 classes on Shakespeare for Senior Citizens wins top praise year in and year out!

 

STILL MORE FUN WITH THE BARD: 

 

 

SHAKESPEARE ON THE AIRE: Excerpts from our acclaimed 2009 monthly one-hour radio series will be presented with the Utopian Theatre on DesMoinesLocalLive.com.  You’ll laugh, you’ll ponder, and you’ll be intrigued by our Shakespeare-themed radio plays and discussion, all presented with a seasonal theme.  Sample shows include:

 

-April: 

FESTE AND FRIENDS- Shakespeare’s April Fools

 

-May: 

Doth it run smooth? Shakespeare’s Lusty Lovers of May

 

-June: 

"BILL'S BELLS: For Whom Bill's (Wedding) Bells Toll" 

 

-July: 

"Would you Like to Swing on a Star? Carry Moonbeams Home in a Jar? - A Sneak Peek at the 2009 Shakesperience™ Festival" featuring a special guest from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the first lady of Des Moines jazz and jingle: Tina Haase Findlay 

 

-August: 

"SWOOORD O BLOOODY SWOOORD - Murder and Mayhem on a Hot August Night"