Shakespeare Royal Oak presents William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” with Grace Lawrence (left) as Rosalind and Oscar Quiroz as Orlando July 23 to Aug. 2 at Starr Jaycee Park, 1321 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak. For tickets and more information, go to ShakespeareRoyalOak.com.
Summer shows are ready to entertain, with Shakespeare Royal Oak offering “As You Like It,” the Guildlings at the Players Guild of Dearborn performing the musical “Chicago Teen Edition,” and Trenton’s Open Book Theatre offering a musical cabaret at 7 p.m. July 18 with Broadway comedy favorites.
SHAKESPEARE ROYAL OAK PRESENTS ‘AS YOU LIKE IT’
A romantic comedy set in the Forest of Arden, William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” will be right at home amidst the towering trees at Starr Jaycee Park in Royal Oak as Shakespeare Royal Oak presents its annual summer Shakespearean offering.
The story follows Rosalind, who has been banished, who disguises herself as a man and flees to the forest with her cousin Celia. They meet Orlando, who has also fled to the woods, and romantic sparks fly.
The play includes many familiar lines, including “All the world’s a stage.”
Directed by Kelli Radenmacher, the cast includes Grace Lawrence as Rosalind, Oscar Quiroz as Orlando, Bella Javier as Celia, Jordan Climie as Touchstone, Sara Catheryn Wolf as Jaques, Robert Arbaugh as Oliver, Michael Brian Ogden as Duke Frederick and Duke Senior, Daniel Drobot as Sylvius, and Shannon K. Hurst as Phoebe and Le Beau.
Also in the cast are JM Ethridge as Adam, Jaques De Boys and a forester; Maylin Planet as Corin, a lord, a musician and Hymen, the mythological god of marriage; Kori Fay as Audrey and a forester; Alexander Link as Charles, William and a forester; Cayla Stus as Amiens, a musician and Sir Oliver Martext; and Lucinda Reinke as a forester and understudy.
Tickets to “As You Like It” are $35, and are available online at ShakespeareRoyalOak.com. Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 23 to 25, 30 and 31, and Aug. 1, with 3 p.m. matinees July 26 and Aug. 2 at Starr Jaycee Park, 1321 W. 13 Mile Road.
In addition, the SRO high school ensemble, a tuition-based program, will present Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” at 7 p.m. July 26 to 28 at Starr Jaycee Park, with donations accepted at the entrance.
The teen ensemble learns character development, safe stage combat and sword fighting techniques, costume design and aspects of producing a Shakespearean play.
Students in first through eighth grade may also participate in a tuition-based program, “KidsAct!,” which runs July 27 to 31 that teaches Shakespeare, stage combat, sword fighting, dance and comedic improvisation, culminating in an hour-long performance Aug. 1 for friends and family.
For more information, go to ShakespeareRoyalOak.com.
PLAYERS GUILD OF DEARBORN’S TEEN GUILDLINGS PRESENT ‘CHICAGO TEEN EDITION’
The Players Guild of Dearborn’s teen Guildling summer show, “Chicago Teen Edition” will run July 23 to 26 at the playhouse.
The show features a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, and is based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins, with the script adaptation by David Thompson.
The teen edition of “Chicago” removes mature language, overt sexual references and some of the challenging vocal demands of the original score.
Set a century ago, the story follows chorus girl Roxie Hart and vaudevillian Velma Kelly as they attempt to connive their way out of death row for the murders they committed.
The show is co-directed by Brittany King and Brittany Wright, with musical direction by Vanessa El-Zein Lai and choreography by Katie Garber.
The cast includes Lily Murdoch as Roxie Hart, Bella Avila as Velma Kelly, Yanjie Zhu as Billy Flynn, Ryan Helka as Amos Hart, Rex Kanclerz as Matron “Mama” Morton, Marion Nolan as Liz, Jaena Pringle-Lakey as Annie, Alainna Sworst as June, Emma Collins as Hunyak, Vivian Hallisy as Mona and Delaney Ryan as Mary Sunshine.
The male ensemble consists of Hadi Bazzi, Kit Minor, Drake Moricz, Mayson Welch, Chisomo Willson and Brenden Young.
The female ensemble consists of Natalie Attard, Maggie Breyer, Abbigayle Espinoza and Delilah Rahal.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. July 23 to 25, with a 2:30 p.m. July 26 matinee at the theater, 21730 Madison St. in Dearborn. Tickets are $20, and are available through the link on the Guild’s website, PlayersGuildOfDearborn.org.
TRENTON’S OPEN BOOK THEATRE COMPANY OFFERS MUSIC COMEDY AND IMPROV
Trenton’s Open Book Theatre Company presents a musical theater cabaret fundraiser “Comedy Tonight” at 7 p.m. July 18 at the theater, with songs from “She Loves Me,” “Chicago,” “Into the Woods” and more.
The cast includes Kryssy Becker-Krenitsky, Jessica Boehmer, Maya Gangadharan, Kyle Johnson, Kevin Keller, Kamryn Marck, Luciana Piazza, Lindel Salow, Antonio Vettraino and Stephanie Walters.
Tickets are $30 and are available through a link on the theatre’s website, openbooktheatrecompany.net.
The theatre will also offer “Off Book Improv” at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at the theater. Tickets are $25, with a $5 discount for students.
The theater is located at 1621 West Road in Trenton.