Children’s Shakespeare Theatre Presents: As You Like It

Roaring 20s As You Like It opens at Children’s Shakespeare Theatre

Performances: Fridays, May 9 and 16 at 7pm; Saturday Matinees May 10 and 17 at 2pm
At the Palisades Presbyterian Church, 117 Washington Springs Rd, Palisades

There will be dancing (the Charleston, waltz, and more) singing, and the wit and wisdom of some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters as the children (ages 8 – 13) of Children’s Shakespeare Theatre bring an As You Like It set in the 1920s to life.

Shakespeare’s play, first performed in 1599 is a perennial favorite. This production posits a world that has taken a break from the headlong pace of business in the angry, greedy court of Duke Frederick, to the contemplation and quiet of the Forest of Arden — there to pursue personal fancies and dialogues that aren’t constrained by the exigencies of everyday life in the fast-paced court.

The 22-person cast (ages 8 – 13), is led by Iris King as Rosalind, Penelope Duval as Orlando, Grace Amoonclark as Celia, and Myla Zimbler as Touchstone, the court jester. Levon Goldberg plays the robber baron Duke Frederick who banishes his brother Duke Senior, played by Amada Oh, who takes all his friends and courtiers to live in the Forest of Arden and experience a different world. “Sweet are the uses of adversity,” he says, and with him are wise counsellors and courtiers such as Jaques (“All the world’s a stage”) played by Richard Reimann Valdes, who find the time to ruminate on life and the world.

The cast also includes Aaron Benjamin and Maxine Wedelich, as well as Court Lord business partners played by Erica Winfree, Stella Mattii, Caspian Dawson-Hollis, and Alexander Josuweit; Forest Lords, Foresters, and Shepherds played by Charles Reimann Valdes, Ruthie Benjamin, Gabe Charles, Avery Chase, Colette Dickey, Kyla Li, Declan Amendolia, and Nora Maloney. There is also an unmatched wrestling match featuring August Lockett as Charles the Wrestler and choreographed by Giselle Chatelain.

Costumes are by Giverny Petitmermet, sets by Heather Aveson, choreography by Megan Kip-Holden, and the production is directed by Grey Johnson with Elinor Greenway assisting.

The cast and company of Children’s Shakespeare Theatre come from New York and New Jersey and include home-schooled students, along with students from Nyack High School, North Rockland High School, South Orangetown Middle School, and Green Meadow Waldorf School. CST is dedicated to providing a nurturing and enriching environment through the performance of classical theatre, allowing children to explore, in a safe and supportive educational setting, what it means to be human.

Children’s Shakespeare Theatre is extremely proud to be the recipient of a generous grant from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. Support also comes from sponsors including the Jerome Robbins Foundation and our many individual donors.

Tickets for all performances are $25 for adults, $20 for children under 18. Group rates are also available. Teachers can see As You Like it for free.

Tickets and more information about Children’s Shakespeare Theatre can be found on our website www.childrensshakespeare.org