JACKSON, Wyo. — Off Square Theatre Company is marking the 10th anniversary of Thin Air Shakespeare with a production of the beloved otherworldly comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Edgar Landa and featuring original music by Melissa Elliott, also known as Missy Jo.
Come alongside Off Square Theatre to the dreamy world of fairies, mortals, lords and kings. When everything is not quite what it seems and your judgment is clouded by more than love, it can be hard to know which way is up … But with a merry song and dance, it’s easy to enjoy yourself. Bring a picnic and blanket, along with family and friends, to a free show July 8-10 or 14-17 at 7:30 p.m. to the amphitheater at the Center for the Arts.
“We wouldn’t be hitting our ten-year anniversary without the support of the community,” said Natalia Duncan Macker, founder of Thin Air Shakespeare and Producing Artistic Director for Off Square Theatre.
“It gives me chills to think about where we started and the incredible program we have today,” she continued. “Experiences like Thin Air Shakespeare bring people together and strengthen our community. It is the antidote to our increasingly disconnected world.”
Thin Air Shakespeare is a summer event not to be missed, and past performances have received accolades from locals and visitors alike. “Sound, lights, music, everything was impressive about the production. Thanks for putting this on for the public for free! I can’t remember the last time I laughed with such utter abandon and pure delight,” said one audience member. Commenting on the 2019 production of “As You Like It,” another said, “I can honestly say that I felt like last night’s production had the most positive and encouraging twist to Shakespeare. It truly resembled Wyoming as the Equality State.”
Ten 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 also paved the way for outside events at the Center for the Arts, catalyzing the use of the outdoor space for camps, music performances, and more. “Thin Air Shakespeare was the first major live performing arts event designed to be outdoors at The Center,” said Marty Camino, Executive Director of Center for the Arts. “It has added to the vibrancy of the campus and inspired further activation of the community spaces in the heart of downtown. We are honored to play our part in seeing this tradition carried forward.”
Thin Air Shakespeare is presented free of charge in a family-friendly format, breaking down the traditional barriers to professional theater and focusing on introducing the next generation to the power of live performance. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is an ideal show for the beautiful Jackson setting. It is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, featuring some of his most iconic characters getting themselves into all kinds of follies in the name of love … something most of us have been guilty of at one point or another,” said director, Edgar Landa.
Joining a cast of local artists are guest artists and designers from Colorado, Southern California, New York, and Chicago. Josette Canilao, starring as Helena, has been featured on Fox’s series “The Cleaning Lady” since her Thin Air Shakespeare debut last year, and Off Square Theatre is delighted to have Tony Simotes, a founding member and former artistic director of Shakespeare & Co, joining the cast. Additionally, this year’s cast and crew include many alumni of Off Square Theatre’s youth programs joining as interns and professional artists.
While it’s free to attend, Thin Air Shakespeare is far from free to produce. In honor of the tenth anniversary, anonymous donors are matching audience donations at $2 for every $1 donated up to $10,000. In addition, you can support by purchasing a Bard Basket to pick up at your preferred show. These ready-to-go picnics feature goodies from Persephone Bakery, Provisions, Glorietta Trattoria, and Pearl Street Market. And mark your calendars – Farmstead Cider will be selling a brand-new brew at the July 8and 10 performances, and Glori will be running a refreshing gelato stand at the 14-17 shows.
Thin Air Shakespeare is made possible with support from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wyoming Arts Council, and the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Learn more about Off Square Theatre Company at www.offsquare.org.
