Special Festival! Stratford 2011 Benefit Performance of Square One Theatre Company's ART is Wednesday

Get dressed up for a 90-minute added performance of Square One Theatre Company’s “ART,” to be performed May 25 with all proceeds from the show to benefit Festival!Stratford on the grounds of the American Festival Theater, long known to locals and theatre enthusiasts as the Shakespeare Theatre.

As excitement builds for this year’s Festival! Stratford 2011, Festival! Stratford, Square One Theatre Company, and Shakesperience Productions, Inc. are proud to offer this theatre opportunity to benefit the 10-day theater, arts, and music festival, scheduled for August 11-21, 2011.

The full “ART” show will take place Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Stratford Theatre, 2422 Main Street, Stratford, CT with a “Meet & Greet” with Shakesperience Productions Artistic Director/Founder Emily Mattina to follow the performance at Station House Wine Bar and Grill, 2520 Main Street, Stratford, CT.

Featuring award-winning actors Dan Arenovski, Alexander Kulcsar, and Pat Leo, Yasmina Reza’s internationally acclaimed comedy opened on May 13 and continues on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Stratford Theatre.

ART, directed by Stratford’s Tom Holehan, is a wickedly witty portrait of modern art and old-fashioned friendships creating a conflict between friendships and values as three prosperous middle-aged, longtime American friends, living in Paris, come to blows over the value of a very expensive piece of art.

Fairfield’s Alexander Kulcsar, Stratford’s Annette B. Versage, Judy Keegan, Catrina Fox, and Don Henault, and Milford’s Cliff Fava lend the production and actors their technical expertise with behind-the-scenes support.

Immediately following the show, the audience is invited to Station House Wine Bar and Grill, a local establishment that has continuously supported Stratford’s arts and theater, for a complimentary wine/beer and a “Meet & Greet” with Emily Mattina, the Artistic Director and Founder of Festival! Stratford 2011’s headlining theater company, Shakesperience Productions, Inc.

Tickets for the May 25 event are $20 for adult single tickets and $19 for senior citizens and students. Tickets may be purchased online at www.shakesperience.org or in person at Devan News & Variety at 2385 Main Street, Stratford, CT. The Stratford Theatre is wheelchair accessible and also offers its patrons hearing-assisted listening devices as needed. Please inform the box office of any special needs when reserving tickets.

This year’s Festival! Stratford event is slated to take place in the grove of the Shakespeare Theatre (American Festival Theater) from August 11-21, 2011. Nearly two weeks of Shakespeare plays, local and regional theater performances, art and music exhibits, children’s interactive workshops, and much more will be offered for audience enjoyment. Additional festival announcements to follow soon as the summer season approaches.

The Square One Theatre Company, a nonprofit theatre, was founded in 1990 by Executive Producer Barbara Cairney and Artistic Director Tom Holehan. A volunteer organization, The Friends of Square One Theatre, was also established. Square One’s first production, A Walk In The Woods, was praised and supported by the original Broadway producer, Lucille Lortel, in addition to receiving numerous honors in regional and national theatre competitions.

Square One Theatre is now in its 21st anniversary season. Each season has seen success, critically and financially. The Readers Theatre Showcase, Square One‘s second venue located at the Stratford Library, offers free readings of new, experimental and non-commercial plays, during the summer.

The theatre also presents these staged readings in many area libraries and other venues. In addition, Square One supports SquareWrights, a local group of area playwrights, helping them showcase their work at the Stratford Library.

Shakesperience Productions, Inc. is a professional theatre company located in downtown Waterbury, Connecticut and touring throughout the Northeast to an audience of adults and students alike with School and Public Performance tours, Acting Intensives, Summer Camps, Residencies, Shakespeare in Library Park, and the Spring and Fall Festivals of Theatre. 

For more information, check out www.shakesperience.org or find Shakesperience Productions on Facebook.