What: "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
When: 7 tonight and Saturday, 6 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway.
Tickets: Covered seating $10; $3 children and senior citizens. Free for uncovered seating.
Information: 384-8427.
Forget the picnic baskets. Bring the binoculars. Stretch your legs.
Shakespeare in the Park this year is shedding its picnic tradition as it moves to an outdoor amphitheater.
The Arts Council of Henderson will bring Shakespeare's romantic comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to the newly opened Henderson Pavilion this weekend. The theater offers fixed seating for 2,500 and lawn seating for 5,000.
Past productions of the popular Shakespeare in the Park in Henderson have fit more than 5,000 people and their blankets on the lawn of the neighborhood Foxridge Park each night for the three-day performances. Stages were temporary and Porta Potties were brought in.
"We're excited. We are now a real theater experience. We're not a park," said Judi Steele, president and founder of the arts council.
"This allows us to have our actors not working out of tents or a loaned trailer for costume changes. We don't have to rent Porta Potties."
Because of the new venue's larger space, binoculars are encouraged. Past productions have welcomed picnic dinners and coolers. Food and beverages are prohibited this year, but can be purchased from pavilion vendors.
"We understand that it's a totally different approach," Steele said. "We're transitioning into a more professional venue.
"We're transitioning into a more professional venue.
"This community is maturing. We're moving from a picnic environment under the stars to a theater environment under the stars."
Shakespeare in the Park began 16 years ago initially drawing audiences of 300 and 500. In recent years, it has drawn as many as 6,000 people to each performance.
Its popularity, however, was pushing comfort limits at Foxridge Park.
"It was overflowing with people," Steele said. "They were all crowded together, some couldn't see. It wasn't exactly optimum seating.
"We've had a lot of people say they've wanted to enjoy outdoor theater but didn't enjoy being on wet grass or they're unable to sit on grass ... This will allow 7,500 to sit comfortably."
La Petite Musicale, the Los Angeles Shakespearian company that has performed the past three Shakespeare in the Park productions, will perform "A Midsummer Night's Dream" this weekend with actor Bruce A. Young ("Risky Business" and "Jurassic Park III") performing the role of Oberon.
The production will also include six local student actors who will have speaking parts in the play, Steele said.
Students typically participate in the green show that precedes the production. Last year students were invited to appear in walk-on parts in the production of "Othello," Steele said. This is the first year students have speaking parts.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream," the romantic comedy of deception and chaos fueled by love potions and played out one evening in a forest, isthis season's first production presented by Shakespeare in the Park.
"We thought it was a great way to celebrate the new venue to start with this comedy," Steele said. "It's a lovely, lovely play. There's a lot of talent in this theater group. It's quite a beautiful production."
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