See Shakespeare through the eyes of local high school students—and the rhythms of hip hop—Wednesday, July 26, 2017, in a performance hosted by Fresno Pacific University and Woodward Shakespeare Festival.
Member of FPU’s YES! (Youth Engage Shakespeare) Project will present scenes, dances and original material from and based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. One highlight of this year’s show will include hip hop led by FPU senior Joy Ndombeson. This is something new from the Renaissance dances of the past, according to Julia Reimer, Ph.D., associate director of theater at FPU and YES Project director.
The performance begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Woodward Shakespeare Festival Stage, near the Fort Washington entrance. Admission to the show is free; entrance to Woodward Park is $5 per car.
Now in its fifth year, The YES Project consists of 10 youth from several local high schools. Participants meet on the FPU campus for three weeks before going to Woodward Park for dress rehearsals and the performance. The goals are to train young people in Shakespearean style and develop their improvisational and collaboration skills. Co-facilitating this year is FPU graduate Erica (Rivera) Thomas.
A full version of Twelfth Night will be this year’s fall Mainstage production at FPU, featuring a cast of university students. Showtimes will be 8:00 p.m. November 9-11 and 16-18 with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. November 12 in Strasbourg Theater on the main FPU campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno.