JACKSON, Wyo. — Thin Air Shakespeare returns to The Center Amphitheater this summer for its eleventh year with a production featuring one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains – Richard III, directed by Edgar Landa and featuring original scoring composed by Melissa Elliott.
Richard III begins with the end of a civil war. The House of York is in control of England and Richard, Duke of Gloucester, schemes to take his brother’s newly-won place on the throne. Audiences will be astonished and captivated by a protagonist like no other who is ‘determined to prove a villain.’
“Thin Air Shakespeare’s production will dive deep into the fascinating figure of Richard III,” said Producing Artistic Director Natalia Duncan Macker. “From swordplay and theatrical effects to some of Shakespeare’s most notorious curses in rich poetic writing, this summer’s production will captivate audiences of all ages and leave you curious to know more about a monarch who has enthralled audiences for centuries. Those wishing to go behind-the-scenes of Shakespeare’s Richard III can find resources, critical articles, and more by accessing the Play Guide.”
Eleven years ago, Off Square Theatre launched Thin Air Shakespeare with a short weekend of ‘greatest hit’ scenes. Over the last decade, the program has grown from two nights to two weeks of performances, reaching upwards of 2,000 audience and giving area youth opportunities to learn and mentor with professional artists. Thin Air Shakespeare has earned support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, as well as garnering attention for Off Square Theatre from American Theatre Magazine.
Thin Air Shakespeare is presented free of charge in a family-friendly format in the amphitheater at Center for the Arts, breaking down the traditional barriers to professional theater and focusing on introducing the next generation to the power of live performance. Audiences should bring their own blankets and picnics to the lawn.
While it’s free to attend, Thin Air Shakespeare is far from free to produce. This year, all audience donations will be generously matched by Off Square’s anonymous donor fund. In addition, you can support by purchasing a Bard Basket, a ready-to-go picnic. Details can be found at www.offsquare.org.
Thin Air Shakespeare is made possible with support from the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and the Actors’ Equity Foundation. Special thanks to Producing Partner Center for the Arts for their support and collaboration. Students in Off Square’s Wyoming Shakespeare Conservatory will showcase their work on the stage before the performance on July 14.
Contact sadie@offsquare.org for accommodation information and requests.
