Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2006

Contact: Contact: Mike Emery
713.743.8186 (office)
713.415.6551 (pager)
pemery@uh.edu

This irreverent – and sometimes reverent – send-up of the Bard features sketches centered around classics such as “Hamlet” and other Shakespeare-related themes. The performance is a benefit for the Houston Shakespeare Festival (HSF) and will honor prominent arts patrons Ann Sakowitz and David Berg as well as the energy company Williams, a corporate partner of the arts. This is the first time that this follies-style performance will be staged at UH.

Sidney Berger, producing director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival and director of UH’s School of Theatre and Dance, described the event as “a frivolous and fun” selection of works by a writer whose plays still draw huge, enthusiastic crowds. For 32 years, the University of Houston and the City of Houston have teamed up to present the Houston Shakespeare Festival (HSF) in Hermann Park’s Miller Outdoor Theatre. This annual event has attracted more than 475,000 people in its recent history.

Citing today’s uncertain, tumultuous political climate, Berger noted that audiences are looking for guidance and a semblance of order as they try to make sense of their troubled world. “Shakespeare articulates those questions in ways that are extraordinarily moving and perceptive, but he doesn’t give you any answers,” Berger said.

After a light buffet, “The Shakespeare Show” will be performed by HSF’s company, which includes both Equity and non-Equity actors. Dessert and coffee will follow the performance.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.