Hot Night for theater lovers

April 14, 2010

CAVE CREEK – It’s “One Hot Midsummer Night” April 22 – 24! In the span of three hours each night, audiences will go from the 16th century Renaissance to present day Cave Creek, courtesy of the Shadowbox Players.

The Renaissance Fair starts at 6:30 p.m. in the amphitheatre with entertainers, booths, food for sale, and a general atmosphere that takes you back to merry old England in the time of the bard. The audience will be joined at 7 p.m. with the cast of characters from “Much Ado about Nothing” performing an abridged version of the play as a “Greenshow” with interspersed dancing and singing. The barbed humor of Beatrice and Benedict will be offset with the bumbling hilarity of Dogberry and Verges.

At 8 p.m. the audience moves into the theater and is transported 400 years, with the help of a little magical fairy dust, to the present time with a production of “A Midsummer Night's Dream” that has more than a few modern twists involving Walmart, Starbucks, iPods, and the Boulders Golf Course. The 90 minute adaptation is fast-paced, physical, and totally delights audiences no matter what the century or setting.

For even more hilarity, join the merry band of thespians on Friday for a special birthday celebration for William Shakespeare's 446th birthday!

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, available only at the door. The entertainment is appropriate for all ages. Festival food and trinkets are available for purchase separately. “One Hot Midsummer Night” is at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale 85262 (one half mile south of Carefree Highway). Call 480-575-2464 for more information.