Members of Adirondack Shakespeare Company Presents “Merry Wars” An Immersive Outdoor Theater Experience at The Sembrich
Members of the Adirondack Shakespeare Company will present “Merry Wars,” an immersive outdoor theatrical experience on Wednesday, August 3 at 2 PM and 3 PM. This unique performance, specially curated for The Sembrich’s landscapes and waterscapes, will performed progressively in different locales on the property with seating prearranged in each location.
“We’re very excited to welcome back members of the Adirondack Shakespeare Company for another thoughtful, entertaining, and immersive performance of several of Shakespeare’s most clever skirmishes and travails,” says Artistic Director Richard Wargo. “Last year’s performance was an enormous success, opening new possibilities for collaborative experiences with this incredible group of performers. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the grounds for an exciting afternoon of Shakespeare’s best tales.”
This year’s offering, entitled “Merry Wars,” takes its cue from Much Ado About Nothing and a line about Benedict and Beatrice (“they never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them.”) Follow the travails and antics of a broad range of the Bard’s characters through a series of skirmishes, some verbal, others physical, featuring, in addition to Much Ado, scenes from Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, and King Lear.
Members of the Adirondack Shakespeare Company featured in the performance are Tata Bradway, Katie Fanning, John Hardin, Collin McConnell, Patrick Siler, and Simone Stadler.
Tara Bradway has been enjoying the plays of Shakespeare for 25 years, performing in them for 20 years, and producing them for over 10 years. She holds a PhD in English with a focus on Shakespeare and performance studies from St. John’s University. Tara teaches undergraduate literature and composition courses and works as a freelance writer and editor.
Katie Fanning has worked with Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Hip to Hip Theatre Company, Mint Theatre Company, and Spicy Witch Productions. Past roles include Rosalind in As You Like It, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Helena and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida. She recently received her MFA from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, UK.
John Hardin joined the Adirondack Shakespeare Company for the 2014 and 2015 seasons and, since then, he has also performed with the Puppet Shakespeare Players in New York City, Shakespeare on the Sound in Rowayton, Connecticut, and the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in Boston. In addition to his acting, John also works as a professional chess teacher in New York.
Collin McConnell is an actor, playwright, and educator. Recent acting credits include Twelfth Night with The Classical Theatre of Harlem and Breakz by Cris Eli Blak as part of the Hamilton Arts Festival. He has performed over 20 plays with the Adirondack Shakespeare Company. Other credits include: Quantum Debt (Silver Glass Prod); Pony Up (The New School - written by Mallory Jane Weiss); Twelfth Night (Underling Prod); Julius Caesar (Gorilla Rep - directed by Stephen Brown-Fried);
Patrick Siler is a writer, actor, director, and attorney. In addition to his work with ADK Shakespeare, he currently serves as the Associate General Counsel for the United Nations Federal Credit Union (UNFCU), a not-for-profit financial institution dedicated to serving the people who serve the world.
Simone Stadler has previously appeared with Adirondack Shakespeare Company as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in a role-swapping production of the Scottish play, Gertrude and Laertes in two separate productions of Hamlet, and Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other favorite theater roles include Gertude in Hamlet (Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival), and Myra in Hay Fever (The Bagaduce Theatre). On screen, Simone recently appeared on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted as IRS investigator Mel Montridge. In addition to acting, Simone also works as an indie film producer.
This event is held outdoors, and a rain date is scheduled for Thursday, August 4 at 2 PM and 3 PM.
This performance is generously sponsored by the Lake George Land Conservancy.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at TheSembrich.org/festival or by calling (518) 644-2431