What the Dickens is Going on at Carter Park?

Imagine a company that grows from two to fifty during a season, or a “Gypsy camp” set up with equipment stored in a POD.  That would be Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Company’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Carter Park.  Besides “a dream, coffee and hard work” how did this come about?   This outdoor theater has been camping out at Cameron’s Outback for the last couple of years.  A year and a half ago they adopted Carter Park, under the city’s Adopt-a-Park program, and monthly work days began to clean up the park and ready it for Shakespeare.  Year one they produced the “Taming of the Shrew”—with a cast that was 75% non-local.  Year two, “Hamlet”, tough production!  And now, year three and we have a cast that is 75% local.  Ten of those cast members are children, ten tried out and they all landed roles.  This accentuates part of their mission which is to work with young people to help them learn about theater and Shakespeare. 

 

The Mission—“To produce Classic Theatre each summer in the Community of Half Moon Bay, California that is accessible, entertaining, challenging, educational and enlightening for both audiences and players alike.”  The vision is challenging—“By aligning ourselves with local arts organizations, businesses, trusts, and other entities in the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula and Coast, we strive to be responsive to opportunities and challenges, both artistic and economic, that will produce theater with a deep commitment to education, outreach and audience involvement. We also seek to celebrate diversity and to enrich and enliven the existing cultural and artistic atmosphere of our community and world.”  In that vein the group plans to continue to produce a play each summer and to ultimately bring theater to the schools.  They envision an educational touring troupe which will present collections of Shakespeare’s greatest scenes to schools throughout the Coastside, San MateoCounty, and the greater Bay Area.  They would include pre- and post-performance interactions with students and supporting materials. 

 

There are several ways to get involved and support this endeavor.  Buy a ticket, see a great play—tickets are available at Coastside Books or online at http://www.hmbshakespeare.org.  Help maintain Carter Park, fourth Saturday monthly from 10-2.  Volunteer at the event, and receive 2 comp tickets for 1 hour of your time.  Consider joining their busy, working board.  They’re looking for someone with business manager/business planner skills and someone with advertising and marketing skills.  If you or someone you know have those skills, please contact halfmoonbayshakes@gmail.com.  This troupe is one of the top five outdoor theater groups in Northern California.  Their funding comes from ticket sales and donations additionally they wrote six grants this year. 

 

A note about John Carter Park—John Carter is Larkin Evans’ grandfather.  Robert and Lee thanked the Carter family for their cooperation and mentioned that the park is for everyone.  John Evans thanked the group for using the park. 

 

Q & A

 

What if it rains?  They will break for 15 minutes and go on or actors will don black plastic bags and continue. 

 

Seating?  Bring your own—a low beach chair, or sit on the lawn or hay bales.

 

The capacity of the venue is 2,000, lol.  Really it’s 80-120

 

Dress casually in layers.

 

There will be a temporary wine permit, BYOB & food is okay.  There will be a picnic challenge, the most creative, delicious pictures on Facebook wins tickets. 

 

Look for our Rotary support banner at the play. 

 

Next week, one of my favorite people, Erin Tormey from the Coastside Farmers Markets. 

 

Thank you Special Event Catering for the delicious lunch.