Beer, wine and Shakespeare ready to be served in Royal Oak

ROYAL OAK - Beer, wine and Shakespeare will be served in Royal Oak's Starr Jaycee Park next week when Water Works Theatre Company presents its 12th Annual Shakespeare In The Park. The two week theater event runs July 30 - Aug. 12. Tickets for all performances are on sale now.

For the first time, patrons attending Water Works' main stage presentation of "Henry V" will be able to purchase beer and wine from the company's concession stand, the Shakespeare Popcorn Company. The aptly named and locally brewed "ShakesBeer" will be provided by Royal Oak's MillKing It Productions, whose AXL pale ale and BRIK red ale will be served to adults with proper ID, along with the wine selections Romeo Red and Will's White.

"We are gratified to have received special permission from the city of Royal Oak to meet our patron's requests for beer and wine service during Shakespeare in the Park," stated Water Works founder and Chairman Ed Nahhat. "Shakespeare's works contain many references to beer and wine. Having these refreshments available for our audience not only provides a welcome source of additional revenue, but also adds to the relaxed atmosphere of a wonderful night under the stars."

Beer and wine will only be available during adult shows and must be consumed within the Water Works Theatre perimeter in Starr Jaycee Park. While Water Works encourages its patrons to picnic in the park prior to performances, outside food and beverages are not allowed inside the theater, and alcohol consumption is prohibited in the remainder of the Park.

Shakespeare in the Park pre-events kick off Monday morning, July 30 with the opening of The Water Works Academy, Water Works educational program for high school and pre-college students. Late registration for students who have recently completed grades 9-12 will be available in the park at 8:30 a.m. Registration is currently being taken online at www.waterworkstheatre.com for Water Works' KidsAct! program, Aug. 6-10 for students who have completed grades 1-8. Both educational programs will feature a free performance at the end of each week on the Starr Jaycee Park stage.

Shakespeare in the Park performances will include Water Works' main stage presentation of "Henry V" beginning Thursday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 12. The company will present a special adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as its hour-long Daylight Family Show beginning Saturday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 12. And an original presentation of Water Works' original free Summer Sonnets, entitled "I Know What You Did Last Midsummer," will be presented for free at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday August 4, 5, 11 and 12.

Tickets are $20 for "Henry V" and $6 for "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Tickets are available online at www.waterworkstheatre.com and beginning one hour prior to performances at the Starr Jaycee Park box office.

All events take place in Starr Jaycee Park, 1301 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak. For performances, guests can bring blankets for near the stage lawn seating, low-to-the-ground lawn chairs, or choose seating in the Water Works bleachers. Pre-show picnicking is allowed in Starr Jaycee Park, but not in the theater area. Convenient parking is available in the park's paved lots within walking distance of the Water Works outdoor stage.

Productions: Shakespeare In The Park 2012

Henry V
Sara Catheryn Wolf is excited to be directing the story of Shakespeare's greatest hero, Henry V. "I am thrilled to be working on one of my favorite plays with such a dynamic cast," states Wolf. "Henry V is a character that we can all journey with; a character who calls on our own noble and determined spirits despite incredible odds. Our Henry, combined with a cast of fascinating characters of all types and class, weaves a story to warm us all, reminding us to hold our heads up high and fight against the overwhelming odds of our own lives."

A Midsummer Night's Dream
Water Works has tapped Barton Bund to direct a whirlwind version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as the company's daylight family show.

Summer Sonnets (I Know What You Did Last Midsummer)
Returning for its second year will be Water Works' adaptation of Shakespeare's Sonnets, "Summer Sonnets," a free production on Saturday and Sunday afternoons featuring an original script by Audra Lord. Titled "I Know What You Did Last Midsummer" and directed by Water Works veteran JM Ethridge, this creative script weaves Shakespeare's sonnets into a hilarious tale of a diva, an ingenue and a director who wants to date them both.

Performance Schedule: Shakespeare In The Park 2012

Thursday, Aug. 2
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Friday, Aug. 3
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Saturday, Aug. 4
1 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream, $6
3 p.m. - Summer Sonnets, free
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Sunday, Aug. 5
1 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream, $6
3 p.m. - Summer Sonnets, free
5 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Tuesday, Aug. 7
7 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream, $6

Wednesday, Aug. 8
7 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream, $6

Thursday, Aug. 9
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Friday, Aug. 10
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Saturday, Aug. 11
1 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream, $6
3 p.m. - Summer Sonnets, free
8 p.m. - Henry V, $20

Sunday, Aug. 12
1 p.m. - A Midsummer Night's Dream $6
3 p.m. - Summer Sonnets, free
5 p.m. - Henry V, $20