Free Athens Shakespeare festival to feature a play performed as 'a sitcom in the woods'
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When asked to describe the plot of a 17th-century William Shakespeare comedy, Helen DeMott summarized it as "a sitcom in the woods." As the executive director for the Classic City Shakespeare Company, DeMott is one of the organizers behind Summer Shakesfaire, a one-day festival that is set to conclude with a performance of The Bard's "As You Like It."
The outdoor event is scheduled to take place at noon on Saturday on the north lawn of the Lyndon House House Arts Center, located at 2011 Hoyt St. within walking distance of downtown Athens. In addition to the play, Summer Shakesfaire will include family-friendly activities inspired by the Renaissance era, music, food, guest speakers and more. The festival is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs.
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Because Summer Shakesfaire will begin right at lunch time, attendees will be able to purchase tacos from Homy's Kitchen food truck before checking out the wares of an expected 18 vendors that will include period-appropriate artisans such as potters and leather workers. Kids activities will include inflatable attractions and face painting, and they can watch a live joust performed by professional tricycle riders.
The event will also feature an educational program by The Athens School of Arms to demonstrate the swordsmanship of Shakespeare's time, live music from The Old Frankensteins, and a hammer dulcimer, harp and fiddle trio called Stronger Than Tea. There will also be a youth performance of a scene from "The Tempest" and a Q&A with retired University of Georgia Theater Studies professor Fran Teague prior to Classic City Shakespeare's production of "As You Like It."
DeMott told the Banner-Herald that Summer Shakesfaire is a combination of Renaissance festivals and related events that she has enjoyed in the past. "Shakespeare belongs outdoors anyway," DeMott said, "so it makes sense to put it with music, games and fun."
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens summer Shakespeare festival offers guests a trip back in time
