Shakespeare
in the ozarks
Current Season
On May 15th, 2010, at the height of the 23rd annual May Festival of the Arts, the historic journey begins!
Shakespeare in the Ozarks will inaugurate the stage in Harmon Park with an original, locally-developed production of Shakespeare's delightful mistaken-identity farce, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Story of the Play
Antipholous of Syracuse and his servant Dromio are searching the world for their twin brothers, from whom they were separated in infancy. They arrive in the mysterious and exotic city of Ephesus where -- although it takes a while for them to realize it -- their twins are living. Hilarity ensues!
The Production
The action and time-frame of the play will be transposed from ancient Ephesus to Eureka Springs in the early days of her prosperity, the turn of the 19th-to-20th century. The complete story and language will be retained, exactly as Shakespeare wrote them.
THE COMEDY OF ERRORS will be a home-grown Eureka Springs creation, designed, built, costumed and performed by local artists, and directed by Shakespeare in the Ozarks Artistic Director Keith Scales. This opportunity for artists of many disciplines to work together adds to the vibrancy and variety of the entire arts community. You will not see this production design anywhere else in the world!
Gene Pierce and Eden Thomas in a scene from COMEDY OF ERRORS performed at the inauguration ceremony, November 30, 2009.
General admission: $15.00, seniors $10.00, students $5.00.
Generous discounts for locals.
Schools within 100 miles will be invited to attend low-priced student matinees.
Tickets will be available at the theatre. Reservations are not required.
Performances will be at 4:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The running time of the play is two hours, without intermission.
Tickets
The Stage
In 2009, after nearly two years of preparation, with the sponsorship of Arvest Bank, Shakespeare in the Ozarks built a 24' x 36' stage in beautiful Harmon Park.
Left to right: Jean Merritt (Shakespeare in the Ozarks co-founder), Mayor Dani Joy, Arvest Bank President Debbie Hartsell, John Merritt (Shakespeare in the Ozarks co-founder), Bruce Levine (Eureka Springs Parks Department), Master of Ceremonies Bill Ott, Keith Scales (Shakespeare in the Ozarks Artistic Director) at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, November 30th 2009.
The delightful setting has the capacity to accommodate crowds of hundreds or to adapt to more intimate performances. Eureka Springs Parks Department has agreed to leave this stage in place as a year-round venue for other entertainment -- music, dance, readings, other kinds of plays including children's theatre, puppetry, circus acts...
Shakespeare in the Ozarks intends to make yearly improvements to the stage structure, and eventually to host performances by other Shakespeare companies.
Thanks to Arvest Bank and Shakespeare in the Ozarks, the limestone bluffs surrounding the perfect natural amphitheatre will echo with the delighted applause of audiences enjoying live performances.
Seating
In this early stage of its development Shakespeare in the Ozarks invites audience members to bring blankets and low chairs to set in the nautral amphitheatre surrounding the stage. Come early, bring a picnic and enjoy the romantic setting!
Eureka Springs is a unique and picturesque historic town in the Ozarks mountains, long noted as a visual, musical and literary arts colony.
Approximate driving times to Eureka Springs:
Fayetteville, AR -- 1 hour
Branson, MO -- 1 hour
Springfield, MO -- 2 hours
Tulsa, OK -- 3 hours
Kansas City, MO -- 4 hours
Dallas, TX -- 6.5 hours
What a coil is here!
History of Our Stage
Shakespeare in the Ozarks' new stage occupies the spot where a Chatauqua auditorium stood, from the late 18th century until the Great Depression. The Chautauqua program toured cultural events, including Shakespearean performances, on a circuit through rural America for decades.
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