Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus will hold the 39th annual Shakespeare Festival Jan. 24-28. This popular weeklong event returns with a variety of activities including various acting demonstrations, special exhibits and a performance of a Shakespeare play.
This year’s feature event is a two-hour performance of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" by The National Players from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center. The National Players, from the Olney Theatre Center in Maryland, is the country’s longest-running classical touring company. The performance is free, but reservations are required by calling 724-430-4271.
The festival week also includes two Shakespeare workshops and a performance. All are free and open to the public (for large groups, please call 724-430-4271 to make reservations).
- -- “Actors’ Journey Through Shakespeare” -- a demonstration presented by cast members of the National Players acting company from 12:15 to 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24, in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.
- -- “Shakespeare’s Lovers and Fighters” -- a performance highlighting Shakespeare’s most famous fights and romances will be presented by Shakespeare-in-the-Schools from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.
- -- “Taking Shakespeare from Page to Stage” -- a demonstration focused on The Two Gentlemen of Verona presented by Shakespeare-in-the-Schools from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, in the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the Community Center.
Rounding out the week are special Shakespeare-related exhibits in the Penn State Fayette Library available for public viewing, including “Shakespeare’s Stratford,” a guest exhibit of photographs taken by Dennis Brestensky; “Shakespeare and Popular Culture” artifacts from the collection of Jeffrey Martin, a retired English teacher from Albert Gallatin Senior High School; and unique and imaginative projects created by students from past Introduction to Shakespeare classes at the Fayette Campus. Library hours to view the special exhibits during the Shakespeare Festival are: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Founded by former Penn State Fayette English professor Dennis Brestensky in 1972, the Shakespeare Festival is a cultural tradition at Penn State Fayette that is popular with local school groups and community members.