Pirates to take over Starr Jaycee Park in Shakespeare Royal Oak's
Twelfth Night July 25 - August 4
Tickets Go On Sale Wednesday, June 12
KidsAct! and SRO Teen Ensemble
Educational Programs return for students in grades 1-12
ROYAL OAK, MI (June 11, 2024) Shakespeare Royal Oak is returning to Starr Jaycee Park for its 24th season, bringing the state's largest professional outdoor theatre event to Royal Oak July 25 - August 4. This year’s festival will feature Twelfth Nightand two education programs: KidsAct! for students entering grades 1-8 and the SRO Teen Ensemble for students entering Grades 9-12.
Twelfth Night
Metro Detroiters will board the Bard’s pirate ship and set sail to the West Indies with Viola, Olivia, and the gang as they plunder for love in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night! in Royal Oak's Starr Jaycee Park. After her ship wrecks off the coast of Illyria, Viola disguises herself to serve Duke Orsino, who governs the islands to stamp out piracy. Viola falls in love with Orsino but can't reveal herself, of course; meanwhile Orsino is enamored of the most renowned lady pirate, Olivia. Then Olivia meets Viola in disguise and whoa, shiver me timbers! This saltwater romance of fools comes full of fun for a perfect summer evening under the stars. Twelfth Night is directed by D.B. Schroeder and will run eight performances July 25–August 4 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 and will go on sale Wednesday, June 12 at Noon online at ShakespeareRoyalOak.com. Tickets will be available in person at the Starr Jaycee Park box office beginning 90 minutes prior to each performance.
Kids Act!
“One of the best things we’ve created at Shakespeare Royal Oak is our fabulous education curriculum,” states SRO founder and executive director Ed Nahhat. “Our students get a top-notch experience in the park, parents get to see their children perform this incredible work, and we have built a legacy. Several of our KidsAct! and Teen Ensemble participants have gone on to work with us and other area theatres professionally, and that makes us so proud.”
During the two-week SRO Teen Ensemble program, high school students delve into character development, explore safe stage combat and sword fighting techniques, prepare costume designs, and learn all aspects of presenting a Shakespearean production. This summer, participants will be staging their own production of Hamlet.
The
SRO Teen Ensemble Program will run July 15-26 for students entering grades 9-12. There will be three public performances on the Starr Jaycee Park stage at 7pm July 28, 29, & 30. All students registered for the program will be in the production. Students may also attend as technical students (non-actor) and will be given theatrical technical training in stage management, sound design, dramaturgy, and choreography. Students wishing to do both will be given the opportunity to do so. Tuition is $310 per student with registration available online at
ShakespeareRoyalOak.com/education.
For students entering grades 1-8,
Shakespeare Royal Oak is proud to offer
KidsAct! July 29 - August 2. with a public performance on Saturday, August 3 at 11am. During this six-day program, students will learn Shakespeare, safe sword fighting, stage combat, and improv skills from area theatre professionals. KidsAct tuition is $260 per student with registration available now online at
ShakespeareRoyalOak.com/education.
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Media Notes
Interviews are available with Shakespeare Royal Oak directors, staff, and members of the casts. Media passes are available for the 7:30pm, Friday, July 26th performance. To request an interview or press passes or for more information, contact Scott Myers at
media@shakespeareroyaloak.comProduction Photo: Click on the photo below to download a copy for media use. Caption: Mason Gaida & Meredith Parker appear as Duke Orsino & Viola in Shakespeare Royal Oak's production of Twelfth Night. Photo Credit: Kevin Walsh