A STAR DANCED

The Bard would feel at home at EmilyAnn. As in the past summers since 1998, young thespians learn their craft, display their acting skill, and get to improve their chops. All of it is under the lights with microphones and in front of a live audience. Hit your cue at the right time. Most importantly, don’t forget your lines.

Although last year the performance was virtual, this year’s Summer Shakespeare is live once again with colorful costumes, heroes and villains and everything that one would expect in a Shakespeare comedy. This year’s performance is “Much Ado About Nothing”

This year’s directors are all graduates of the program and excited about being back.

“My first show at Emily-Ann was “Twelfth Night.” Being back at EmilyAnn is a joy. “I did Summer Shakespeare for about five years,” said Director Bronson Lassiter.

“The plot is that they are coming back. It takes off from there between brother and sister fighting, couples in love, the kind of trauma that goes on between them. It’s a Shakespeare comedy.”

For director Kendra Patch, this her first time to direct. She is focused on specific elements of the play.

“I look for the performance to have eye-catching costumes and the sets are amazing. But I look for straight performance and to see how naturally the actors perform,” said Patch. “You’re dealing with a lot of younger actors, that has to be hard. But I feel like a lot of times younger actors are more passionate about it. They have less of an ego... Kids typically can do that a lot easier. They’re looking for other people’s emotions, because they’re going through them.”

The play “Much Ado About Nothing,” started Monday, July 19 and runs through Saturday, July 26 at, 8 p.m.

There is no charge but donations are freely accepted.