Warnings and Portents and Evils Imminent... Time for SHAKESFEAR!

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival's annual Shakesfear event -- mixing some of Shakespeare's characters with the basic structure of a haunted house -- starts tomorrow night at Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington.

There are two options: a half-hour "Haunted Tour" kicked off by the immortal Bard himself, after which brave souls will be guided around the grounds to see frightening scenes from Shakespeare recreated for them, or the "Enchanted Courtyard," which offers crafts and treats and less scary performances for everyone under the age of 8 and anyone not looking for the scary stuff.

The tours leave every ten minutes beginning at 7 pm on October 27, 28 or 29, with the last group setting out at 9:30 pm. The scenes they'll see may be on the balconies, in the gardens or even backstage at the Festival theater, wherever seems appropriate for the likes of drowned Ophelia and her seaweed-dripping locks, mad Lady Macbeth and her bloody hands, or perhaps Richard III haunted by the ghosts of everyone he murdered. Who and what will be performed this year hasn't been leaked yet, but the body count from plays like Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet and Titus Andronicus is high enough to provide plenty of material. Witches, apparitions, murderers and mischief-makers abound!

"Haunted Tours" have sold out in the past, so you are advised to make a reservation by calling the Illinois State University box office at 309-438-2535 or 866-IL-SHAKE. Buying ahead not only gets you a reserved spot at a specific time, but a lower ticket price. It's $7 for adults who plan ahead and $10 at the door (cash only) if there are spaces left. Admission for children and students is $5 either in advance or at the door.

The Ewing Cultural Center is located at 48 Sunset Road in Bloomington. Parking is available at St. John’s Lutheran Church across the road on Emerson Street. You are asked to cross the street at Emerson and Towanda Avenue so as to avoid traffic.

Please also note that special effects used in this program may include strobe lighting and loud sound and noise. Persons with conditions that can be aggravated by strobe lightning and loud noise should not attend this program. No pets or skates are allowed on the grounds of Ewing Cultural Center. If you need special accommodations to fully participate in this program/event, please contact the Illinois Shakespeare Festival at 309-438-2535. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

For more information, visit www.IllinoisShakes.com.

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE Opens This Summer of Shakespeare at ISF

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival doesn't begin its mainstage performances of Much Ado About Nothing, Elizabeth Rex and Antony and Cleopatra until July 8, but in the meantime... The Festival's free Theatre for Young Audiences show has already begun.

This year, the TYA show is Shake, Shake, Shake Your Shakespeare, written by Nancy Steele Brokaw. And here's how the ISF describes what exactly this Shake is all about:

"Shake, Shake, Shake Your Shakespeare is the new, FREE theatre show for all ages that features Young Will as he learns about the art of storytelling. The show includes several familiar story book characters including Old Mother Goose, who becomes a kind of mentor for Young Will on his adventure. Together, with the audience, Old Goose and Young Will travel though several of Shakespeare's plays, learning about how to best tell a story."

The show took its first bow yesterday at the Ewing Cultural Center. In the rest of June, Shake, Shake will tour to the Immanuel Health Center in Bloomington on the 21st, come back to Ewing Manor on the 25th and make a stop at the Farmers Market in Bloomington on the 28. In July, look for this "interactive adventure" at Ewing Manor on Wednesdays and Saturdays except Saturday, July 19, when the troupe takes a trip to Franklin Park as part of Bloomington's Lincoln's Festival. All shows begin at 10 am.

Shake, Shake, Shake Your Shakespeare is a 45-minute show, completely free and intended for all ages. It is especially geared to the youngsters among us who might otherwise be confused or uncertain about their capacity to fully embrace Shakespeare. Shake, Shake shows them exactly how embraceable -- and fun -- Shakespeare and live performance can be. Outside! In the sun!

For more information on all this summer's activities at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, click the link under their name or check out their Facebook page.

Getting Ready for Illinois Shakes Fest 2013... Already!

Illinois Shakespeare Festival 2013 will be the first under new artistic director Kevin Rich, so the announcement of what exactly will be happening next summer has been hotly anticipated. Will it be two Shakespeare plays and something sorta kinda related, as in the past? Something completely different? And what will happen with Theatre for Young Audiences? Inquiring minds want to know!

Do I know now? No, I do not. But the news is coming soon, according to information released today by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. They haven't announced the '13 season, but have announced that they will be announcing it... On Wednesday, October 10th at the Ewing Cultural Center in Bloomington.

It's a long time to wait, even so, but we can pass the time guessing what the new schedule will be. I'll go out on a limb and guess "Hamlet," which hasn't been done here in awhile, "Comedy of Errors," which was last summer's Theatre for Young Audiences choice, and, for something related but not Shakespeare...

"She Stoops to Conquer" and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" have both been done at the ISF in the past, but it's been awhile. so I think I'll go with "She Stoops." On the other hand, I chose "Hamlet" for no real reason, and "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern" goes beautifully with "Hamlet." Nah. I'll stick with "She Stoops."

My psychic prediction is therefore: "Hamlet," "Comedy of Errors" and "She Stoops to Conquer." If I'm right, I will start... Yeah, never mind. Because, seriously, there is no way I'm right.

One other intriguing hint has been offered, however, since they will be using Two Blokes and a Bus (and their big red double decker bus, just like you'd see in London, except this one is a food truck instead of public transport) to provide a food option for the announcement event.

Will Two Blokes and a Bus be linked to next summer's Shakespeare Festival?

Maybe we'll find that out on October 10th, as well. Stay tuned!