Creating Much Ado with a Troubled Dane for Second Annual Shakespeare in the 'Burg Theatre Festival

The annual Shakespeare in the ‘Burg theatre festival, set for March 27-29, 2015, brings the internationally acclaimed American Shakespeare Center (ASC) back to this quaint, historic village west of Washington, DC for a weekend of performances, workshops and more. ASC actors will perform HAMLET on Saturday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington Street in Middleburg. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, they will perform MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. While these plays are very different in tone and content, they remain two of the Bard’s most popular.

In addition to the ASC performances, Shakespeare in the ‘Burg will once again have a performance of the winning play from the festival’s one-act playwriting competition.

This year’s performance will include a gourmet lunch and a musical presentation by the Crooked Angels, a popular local music duo. Friday, March 27, 2015, will mark the kick-off event of the festival—a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception sponsored by the Hill School, 130 S. Madison Street in Middleburg. The reception will include a showing of the film version of West Side Story, a musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet with words and music by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. The movie, released in 1961, earned 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It remains the gold standard for movie musicals.

Local inns and hotels are offering special packages for visitors who want to stay for the weekend, and restaurants will have fixed price, pre-theatre menus on Saturday night. Even local retailers are getting into the act, with Shakespeare-themed items on sale at special prices. Tickets are on sale now and information on inns and offerings can be found at www.shakespeareintheburg.com. Ticket prices range from $25 to $40. Student discounts will be offered on workshops.

GO TO: http://www.shakespeareintheburg.com