Looking for some outdoor entertainment to enjoy with friends and family? Who isn’t this time of year, right? Whether you’re new to town or are looking for something different to do, immersing yourself in the local arts is always a good idea.
Enter Capital Classics Theater Company, a unique performance art group with the simple and straightforward mission to “deliver quality, classical entertainment that is affordable and accessible for all.” The group in July is once again hosting its annual Shakespeare Festival. Founded in 1991 by Geoffrey and Laura Sheehan to “enrich the cultural environment of Greater Hartford through the theater arts,” the non-equity professional organization has continued to pour its love and passion for theater through their numerous productions and programs.
Capital Classics this year will perform The Tragedy of Macbeth, which runs from July 13-30.
In case you need a refresher on the Shakespearian classic, The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s finest and well-known plays, portraying the theme of “the tragedy of political ambition.”
Thought to have been first performed in 1606, a brave Scottish general (Macbeth) receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. From this, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition and ultimately murders King Duncan (an action spurred by his wife, Lady Macbeth), and becomes a tyrannical ruler.
On a deeper level, Macbeth represents the conflict of a man’s conscience, showcasing the effect that guilt has on one’s mind. Exploring themes of reality and illusion, witchcraft and the supernatural, and ambition and kingship, this is a classic reenactment you don’t want to miss.
Set on the gorgeous grounds of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, patrons pack up their lawn chairs, picnics, and blankets to enjoy an evening of Shakespeare with strangers and friends alike who share a love and appreciation for not only Shakespearian plays, but the beautiful charm and drama of theater in general.
Pre-show entertainment is included in this special series of showings, including the return of The Elizabethan Consort, an a capella quartet “who will bring the special blend of humor and harmony to Friday and Saturday nights.” Additional entertainment will be revealed as the date gets closer.
According to the theater company, last year the Festival attracted the largest crowd in its 31-year history, and promises to be “just as exciting” this year with the unveiling of Macbeth. As Connecticut’s oldest continuously running outdoor Shakespeare festival, it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about putting on an excellent show.
Past productions of the Capital Classics Theater Company have included Romeo & Juliet, Othello, Twelfth Night, All’s Well That Ends Well, and many more. The organization also offers community programs where those interested in classical theater can be a part of projects like the Shakespeare Book Club, Contemporary Classics Conversations, and more.
Also happening this summer is a series titled Shakespeare on The Sound, held at Pinkney Park in Rowayton, CT. This summer’s production is As You Like It, a comedy that “subverts the traditional rules of romance,” portraying the confusing nature of gender roles and politics, reflecting on “how bewildering yet utterly pleasurable life can be.”
The Shakespeare Festival is held at 1678 Asylum Avenue in West Hartford — you can grab tickets online at capitalclassics.org, where you can also keep up with the theater organization and the many wonderful entertainment options it provides to art lovers.
Keep tabs on their social media for future productions and events online, Capitalclassics.org, or on their social media,@calptialclassics.