Freewill Shakespeare Festival
Hawrelek Park T6G 2J4 Edmonton, AB, Canada

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! May you have a joyous celebration today and all Spring long. We hope to see you outdoors later this summer and in the meantime have a listen to The Public Theater's free audio production of ROMEO Y JULIETA, a gorgeous English/Spanish adaptation. https://publictheater.org/productio//2021/romeo-y-julieta/

Happy Star Wars Day! As Artistic Director, and Jedi Padawan, David Horak says, "do not let your fear turn to anger for that is the path to the Dark Side. Instead, read some Shakespeare and look forward to the late summer when we will see you outside." Darth Shakespeare by Alexa Jordynn Tonn

Happy Birthday Will! Today is William Shakespeare’s 457th birthday and it’s a tradition at Edmonton’s Freewill Shakespeare in the Park to announce summer plans. This year is no different, but plans are. Artistic Director David Horak, Managing Director Nikola Tonn, and the Board of Directors, will be pivoting from the event in its usual form: amphitheatre seating, drinks, snacks, and big Shakespeare cast and crew wandering in and out of audiences. Instead, they will be offerin...g outdoor & physically distant opportunities to experience Shakespeare in true Freewill style later in the summer when, hopefully, COVID-19 restrictions are eased. We are a creative group of people, exclaims Artistic Director David Horak. We perform Shakespeare outdoors and we intend to offer this later in the summer for everyone who is comfortable to go outside and safely enjoy some unique productions of the Bard’s work. While we’ll miss producing a large-scale festival this June, a shift to productions that feature smaller casts will still have that fun and accessible Freewill-style. In a nod to the changes wrought by COVID-19, we are preparing Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing: The Pandemic Variations; creatively condensed versions of last year’s scheduled productions. Whether roaming or set at predetermined locations pending AHS guideline approval, these unique, lovingly told renditions will be enjoyed by everyone from the occasional to the well-read Shakespeare fan. We are currently planning to run outdoor programming starting in July through August of 2021. Stay connected with us by visiting online at https://www.freewillshakespeare.com/ or follow through @freewillplayers, to learn more about our Mid-Summer Plans.

Happy Birthday Will!

Shakespeare's bday is Friday and to celebrate, Biera is donating $20 from each Biera Box sold until tomorrow April 21 to Freewill Shakespeare. Biera Box pickup is April 23 and 24. Each box comes with a 4-pack of bottle-conditioned beer from Blind Enthusiasm, two artisan cheeses of your choice, freshly baked sourdough focaccia, and house-made accompaniments. You can choose to add on charcuterie and more treats from Biera's kitchen. Orders are open at https://shop.blindenthusi...asm.ca/produ/biera-box-april-23-24 with free delivery across Edmonton. Thank you to our friends at Biera and Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company. And happy Almost-Birthday Will!

We agree with our friends at Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company: King Duncan from Macbeth would be a big fan of this week's beer Düncan, their smooth dark lager. Next Friday is Shakespeare's birthday and to celebrate, Biera is donating $20 from each Biera Box sold April 23 & 24 to Freewill Shakespeare. Each box comes with a 4-pack of bottle-conditioned beer from Blind Enthusiasm, two artisan cheeses of your choice, freshly baked sourdough focaccia, and house-made accompaniments. You can choose to add on charcuterie and more treats from Biera's kitchen. Orders are open at shop.blindenthusiasm.ca, with free delivery across Edmonton. Thank you Biera + Blind Enthusiasm, we you.

The 35//50 Initiative has asked professional theatres in Alberta to commit to a set of organizational beliefs and policies that will result in 35%+ of staff and contractors who identify as Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour and 50%+ of staff and contractors who identify as female and non-binary. The Free Will Shakespeare Festival has begun making changes in order to better represent the Edmonton community and believe in many of the goals of this call to action. We look forward to working with the members of the 35//50 Initiative in order to meet the 35% and 50% metrics by the 2024/25 theatre season. CLICK to read the 35//50 Call to Action: http://bit.ly/35_50InitiativeYEG

So that's what they mean by "Shakespeare getting sanitised for the classroom" [Via Kim Robinson @KimandOscar]

Our final Freewill Players Online Auction Feature is directly in our backyard. We’re excited to welcome back guests for our 2021 season & this bid includes a packaged picnic, two tickets to any performance in our 2021 season, 2 popcorn tickets + 2 beverage passes, and a charcuterie package for 2. Bid today at 32auctions.com/FreewillShakespeare2020 and thank you for supporting Shakespeare in the Park.

A Freewill Players Online Auction feature: A private taste and tour for up to 20 people at the excellent Strathcona Spirits Distillery! Available at phase 3 of reopening. Bid today at 32auctions.com/FreewillShakespeare2020 and thank you for supporting Shakespeare in the Park.

Freewill Players Silent Auction Saturday night feature! Enjoy dinner at our long-time sponsor Chianti and a trip to see the arts: 2 $25 Chianti Cafe and Restaurant certificates (Donated by Chianti Cafe & Restaurant Old Strathcona)... 4 adult passes to the Art Gallery of Alberta (Donated by Art Gallery of Alberta) 2 tickets to ANY show at Skirts-A-Fire 2021 (Donated by SkirtsAfire Festival) Bid today at 32auctions.com/FreewillShakespeare2020 and thank you for supporting Shakespeare in the Park.

A Freewill Players Online Auction Beer Friday feature! Enjoy a trip to the wonderful Biera restaurant including Two $100.00 gift certificates to Biera... Two Biera T-shirts Bid today at 32auctions.com/FreewillShakespeare2020 and thank you for supporting Shakespeare in the Park.