Free Shakespeare in the Park Returns to the Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco (August 26, 2009) — Antipholus and his servant Dromio set out from their hometown of Syracuse in search of their long-lost twin brothers. Their arrival in the foreign city of Ephesus sets off a farcical chain of mishaps as the twins are mistaken for each other, resulting in a climax of comedic chaos only Shakespeare could devise. Enjoy the madness and romance of The Comedy of Errors as the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival returns to the Presidio for a 27th season of Free Shakespeare in the Park. Performances of The Comedy of Errors begin Saturday, August 29 at 7:30 pm at the Main Post Parade Ground Lawn (between Graham Street Keyes Avenue).
Directed by resident director Kenneth Kelleher, this dizzying comedy of mistaken identity promises to make the 2009 season of Free Shakespeare in the Park a colorful carnival: a circus-inspired mixture of juggling, slapstick, and visual and verbal puns. The cast of a dozen actors includes several familiar faces as well as a number of talented newcomers. In his seventh season with the Shakespeare Festival, Kelleher has won rave reviews for his arresting visual style and use of music and dance in last year’s production of Pericles as well 2007’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest in 2006.
The Free Shakespeare in the Park performances of The Comedy of Errors run weekends from August 29 through September 20 at the Main Post Parade Ground Lawn (between Graham St Keyes Ave.) at the Presidio in San Francisco. Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm. Sunday matinees are at 2:30 pm. There is a special Labor Day Matinee Monday, September 7 at 2:30pm, and Sunday, September 13 is Family Day with festivities – including crafts, a costume sale and a pre-show teen performance – starting at 1 pm.
Fans should arrive about an hour before show time. Pillows and low-back folding chairs are allowed. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase or bring a picnic. For more information visit/calendar or call (415) 865-4434.
After more than 20 years in Golden Gate Park, Free Shakespeare in the Park moved to the Presidio in 2004 for a production of Twelfth Night. It began in 1983 with its debut production of The Tempest in Golden Gate Park and has grown into one of the premier free Shakespeare programs in the nation. Produced every year in San Francisco, Oakland, Pleasanton, and Cupertino from July through September, Free Shakespeare in the Park provides an opportunity for everyone to see high quality, professional theater free of charge.
The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to oversee the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It also comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District.