04 Sep 2023 Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre announces fall tour cast, dates

Posted at 5:37 PMh in News by

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at the University of Central Arkansas will open its fall tour of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) with a public performance at the Center for Humanities and Arts (CHARTS) at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech on Saturday, Sept.  9, at 7:30 p.m. 

After a successful summer run, which included venues in Arkansas such as Hot Springs and Morrilton, AST partnered with Shake on the Lake Theatre Company to bring the show all over Western New York with stops in Rochester, Silver Lake, Geneseo, and others.

The tour is currently still booking shows for September and October.  Organizations, schools and individuals interested in booking the tour may contact AST through the website at arkshakes.com/tour.

Current public performances include: 

  • Saturday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m. – CHARTS at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech, North Little Rock, Arkansas 
  • Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. – Historic Washington State Park in Washington, Arkansas (near Hope)
  • Thursday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. – Ozark Heritage Center Arts Center and Museum in Leslie, Arkansas
  • Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. – Skokos Performing Arts Center in Alma, Arkansas
  • Sunday, Oct. 8, at 4:00 p.m. – Skokos Performing Arts Center in Alma, Arkansas
  • Friday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. – River Valley Arts Center (performing at Central Presbyterian Church) in Russellville, Arkansas

Ticketing varies for each show. For up to date times and locations, visit arkshakes.com/tour.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, follows three Shakespearean super-fans as they bring all of Shakespeare’s 30-something plays to life in a single, whacky evening. The show was London’s longest-running comedy, having played for over nine years on London’s West End.

Long-time AST favorite and leading actor, Dan Matisa (credits include Off-Broadway shows, television and film credits, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and others) will direct the piece. This fast-paced, fun, and frantic piece will tour to performing arts centers and schools around the state in September and October.

The cast includes Augustine Nguyen (credits include Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Arkansas Rep, Shake on the Lake Theatre Company, and others), Kevin Alan Brown (credits include productions in Russia, Greece, New York, Washington DC, and others), and Emily Swenskie (credits include AST, CAT Collective, Argenta Community Theatre, and others). The design team for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) includes Keagan Styes (Costume Designer), Austin Aschbrenner (Scenic Designer), and Matthew Duncan (Sound Design).

In conjunction with the tour, AST will also be offering a package of workshops.  The workshops will be led by Swenskie (MFA Texas Tech) and Brown (MFA Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy at the George Washington University), both of whom have taught all around the country as well as locally at AST, The Rep, Argenta Community Theatre, and others.  Offerings include workshops in Shakespearean Language, Stage Combat, Improv, Music and more.Special funding for the fall tour is provided by the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, Toad Suck Daze and the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust.