Adirondack Shakespeare Company Returns to Schroon Lake for Third Summer Season

Shakespeare IN THE RAW is about to return to Schroon Lake! The Adirondack Shakespeare Company (ADK Shakes) is back for their third annual Summer Festival Season and prepared to present some of the finest comedy and tragedy that the Bard has to offer. 

First up for ADK Shakes is The Twelve Labors of Hercules, an original children’s play written by Jessica Hackett. The two-week tour will begin on July 11th at the Boathouse Theater in Schroon Lake Village. Hercules boasts a tight-knit professional company playing multiple roles in this delightful story. Meet the pantheon of Greek gods and monsters, portrayed through beautiful mask work and puppetry.

ADK Shakes’ mainstage season will begin on July 28th at the Boathouse Theater with the opening of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s beloved comedy about love, family and friendship. Of course, Viola and Orsino’s tale wouldn’t be complete without a little cross-dressing! In addition to Twelfth Night, the mainstage season will feature the paired presentation of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Hamlet and Tom Stoppard’s darkly comic modern take on the tale, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. ADK Shakespeare’s Executive Director, Patrick Siler, takes the stage as the tragic Prince of Denmark in both productions, just after graduating from Law School and sitting for the New York State Bar Exam.

The ADK Shakes company has been on a mission to bring high-quality theater to the Adirondacks region, and is thrilled to be returning for another summer. The naturally beautiful performance spaces, like the Amphitheater at Scaroon Manor, provide a picturesque backdrop for the adrenaline-fueled RAW performances that eliminate the need for a traditional set. ADK Shakespeare’s unique IN THE RAW performance style strips away all extraneous elements of the production, removing lavish period costumes, sets and lighting design, and focuses on Shakespeare’s words. The result has been called “a head first-no safety net dive into Shakespeare.” Artistic Director, Tara Bradway, states, “The plays are pretty good. We like to let them speak for themselves. It is rare to see the work done with this level of honesty and absolutely should not be missed.”

ADK Shakespeare’s Mainstage Season will run through August 18th, with performances taking place primarily at the Boathouse Theater in Schroon Lake Village, as well as the Scaroon Manor Amphitheater and Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Tickets are currently available for purchase online through adkshakes.ticketleap.com.