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Shakespeare Theater announced today that its annual "Free For All." a no-charge outdoor restaging of one of the company's productions, will no longer be held at Carter Barron Amphitheater.
Starting in 2009, the event will now be at the company's impressive new Sidney Harman Hall. Shakespeare Theater's press release said the move will allow them to hold 22 free shows rather than 10, avoid weather related cancellations, make the event more Metro accessible and provide a better performance space.
These are all good things -- particularly the increased number of performances. But there's going to be some magic lost in moving the event indoors; it was the closest thing D.C. had to Shakespeare in the Park, and putting it in a traditional theatrical space doesn't exactly lend itself to pre-show picnics.
Next year's event, which will start over Labor Day weekend -- a departure from the usual scheduling in the warmer months -- will be a restaging of last October's fascinating take on The Taming Of The Shrew. Will you be more or less likely to take advantage of the Free For All once it ends up at Harman?
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Lame.
I didn't even know about it, so I'll enjoy any free Shakespeare I can (to a degree).
An incidental result of the Free-For-All being held at Carter Barron was that only the people who actually had an interest in seeing the show would be there. Putting it at the Harmon Center seems like an invitation to madness. Give away anything for free and the social cretins will descend upon you like Xerxes' arrows.
Frankly, going out to the actual event, even though it was a bit of a hassle was totally worth it for being able to be around the park and see a quality show. Seeing it at the Harmon is just lame.
This is some weak sauce. There is nothing nicer than being in the park while the sun sets and you are enjoying Shakespeare -- and I go to a lot of shows at both the Shakespeare Theatre Company and Folger Shakespeare, so I'm a patron and a potential subscriber.
I hope some up and coming company like Taffety Punk takes up the mantle to do it in the park. In the immortal words of Married to the Sea, "Shakespeare Gots to Get Paid, Son."
Both I and my friends are far less likely to go with this change. I understand that this move may make it easier for less-well-off and/or transportation-limited theatregoers to enjoy the Free-For-All. But to me, the charm and attraction was in the outdoor setting at Carter Barron, with the packed-in picnic dinners that could be munched on throughout the performance.
So thanks for the memories, Shakespeare Theatre Company. It was fun while it lasted.
Pffftttttttt!!!!!!!!
Move it to the Mall , lots of Metro access, we can still picnic and still watch the actors act in the rain while they do the show at rain pace.
Less likely. Carter Barron is a great venue for this. Last year's Hamlet was excellent, as was the ability to picnic in Rock Creek prior to the show. Now I have to overpay for food in Chinatown prior to the show. Blah.
bethesdaist: did you see taffety punk's version of romeo and juliet last month?
It it still free? Yes? Then the rest is just details right?
@IMGoph: did you see it? what did you think?
@IMGoph: did you see it? what did you think?
@will585
They tried doing that a while ago. It suffices to say the logistics did not work at all. The scenario is that people pick up tickets the morning of the show at the Harmon, Lansburgh, or WaPo office on 15th. Then you go with ticket in hand to the venue & seating is first-come, first serve. Trying to herd people around the National Mall would be a nightmare. The Carter Barron, however, is built for such an event, so the herding is far easier.
ahark1pd: i did see it. twas fantastic. i'm not a shakespeare aficionado, but i was damn impressed with taffety punk's all-grrl interpretation
@IMGoph: cool, thanks! :)
(full disclosure: i was involved in that production. but i am fascinated by the different opinions and perspectives the various audience members i've talked to have had. hence the asking.)
I'll be more likely to go see it at the transit-friendly venue. Sure, picknicking before the show at Carter Barron was fun, but I've had enough of getting rained on and dealing with the post-show crush on the S bus.
I agree with ahaak - free theatre is free theatre. Especially at Shakespeare Theatre Company's level.
I agree with smittydc this change is lame. I regularly see shows all over town and the uniqueness of this event was the outdoor venue. I'd be fine with the calendar change if the venue remained the same. That way the theater folks would have less problems with the logistics. But indoors in what has become a circus @ Galley Place? Forget it. I'll pass.
ahark1pd: full disclosure on my part as well, i'm friends with a couple of people who were in the production, so there's a hint of bias on my end.
IMGoph: awesome. :) small town.