Presidio Welcomes 5th Season of Free Shakespeare in the Park

Presidio of San Francisco (August 26, 2008) — The month-long FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK festival festival returns to the Presidio for a 5th season, this time featuring a rarely-produced play, Pericles. Performances begin Labor Day Weekend and continue every Saturday and Sunday through September 21.

Resident director Kenneth Kelleher’s arresting visual style and use of music and dance won rave reviews for last year’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This production brings to life the story of the young prince who, forced to flee for his life, embarks on an epic journey that leads him from a tragic shipwreck to a joyful marriage and from the loss of his beloved daughter to a surprising reunion. Kelleher sets his production in frontier America in the mid-1800s. The cast of 11 actors play numerous roles; live music throughout the show features spirited folk, country and bluegrass.

FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK is one of the Presidio’s most popular events and anchors a busy fall season that also includes an outdoor movie screening of An American in Paris at the historic Main Post Theatre. A complete schedule of activities is available at/calendar.

Performances of Pericles run weekends from August 30 through September 21 at the Main Parade Ground Lawn, next to the Officers’ Club, at the Presidio of San Francisco. Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm. Sunday matinees are at 2:30 pm. There is also a special Labor Day matinee Monday, September 1, at 2:30 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, call (415) 561-5500.

FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: 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. The festival began in 1983 with its debut production of The Tempest and has grown into one of the premier free Shakespeare programs in the nation.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to manage the Presidio of San Francisco, a former army base located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains the infrastructure of a small city as well as expansive open space, a 300-acre historic forest, spectacular views, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District, making it unlike any other national park.