Capistrano Shakespeare Festival

CapoShakes 2011 Will Soon Be Upon Us

Come back soon for all the details.

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A Midsummer Night's Dream 2010

in the Historic Town Center Park

 

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare. It was suggested by "The Knight's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and written somewhere between 1594 to 1596. It portrays the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with the Duke of Athens, Theseus, the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta, and with the fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is one of Shakespeare's most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Merchant of Menace - A Old World Melodrama 2010

on the Camino Real Playhouse Main Stage

Written by that master of Mayhem himself - Gary McCarver (AKA Professore Machismo)

The year is 1492, a completely insignificant year, in the quaint little town of Capestrano, a province of L'Aquila, in Abruzzo, Italy. The story centers around a traveling arms merchant who comes to town selling an assortment of knives, daggers, swords, and foils. Too bad most of them are dull, bend easily and are otherwise worthless. The Merchant meets his old love who promptly begins arrangements for their wedding ... a major inconvenience for a conman peddler hoping to get out of town before his ruse is discovered. His faithful manservant Tangelo does everything he can to protect his master ... but to no avail. The wedding is on and so is this musical melodrama.

 

 

 

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Much Ado About Nothing 2010

in the Historic Town Center Park

 

Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare set in Messina, Sicily. The story is about a pair of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are due to be married in a week. To pass the time they conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon, to trick their friends, Beatrice and Benedick, into confessing their love for one another. The prince's illegitimate brother, Don John, however, jealous of both Don Pedro's power and his affection for Claudio, plans to sabotage the coming wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About our 2009 CapoShakes Festival

 

 

Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” in the Summer of 2009 was a a wonderful production and it was regrettable if you missed it. But have no fear ... here is a recap of  the dazzling mix of comedy, tragedy, and magic. This play is considered by many to be one of his greatest undertakings. Ousted from this Dukedom by his brother Antonio for studying magic and backed by the king; Prospero and his young daughter, Miranda, find shelter on a deserted island. Years later those who have harmed them are washed up on the very island by a vicious storm.

 

The mystical romp that ensues brings all those on the island into a masquelike exhibition of love and hate, authentic and illusion. Shakespeare’s play has deep ties to the farcical features of entertainment like Caliban and Ariel the supernatural polar opposites, Prospero’s forgiveness of his enemies who he is also related to by blood or marriage, and the important philosophical themes. This enchanting tale is one that we look forward to returning to our stage soon.

 

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CAPOSHAKES PERFORMANCES

 

Performances for CapoShakes are both held on the main Stage of the Camino Real Playhouse as well as in the Historic Town Center Park. For "Under the Stars" Productions in the Park ... you are invited to bring folding chairs and a picnic to enjoy before and during the performances. If you do forget your picnic we will be having some snacks and refreshments for sale at intermission or you can purchase some food to-go from one of San Juan Capistrano's many fine restaurants before the evening's festivities begin. Visit our Sponsors Page for dining recommendations. And if you forget your folding chairs ... that is not a problem ... we have an ample supply of CapoShakes chairs available for a small additional rental fee.

 

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ONE BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER

Since 2002 the Camino Real Playhouse has moved its annual Shakespeare under the Stars production to the newly constructed outdoor stage in San Juan Capistrano's Historic Town Center Park, which just happens to be adjacent to the Camino Real Playhouse. It has been a great location and a wonderful venue to host  Shakespeare Festivals. Congratualtions to the City of San Juan Capistrano for freating such a wonderful venue for community events and theatrical events. 

 

Click Here to Visit the Camino Real Playhouse's to Buy CapoShakes Tickets