RiverEdge Park in Aurora typically fills summer nights with musical entertainment from classic rock to the blues.
But this summer, William Shakespeare will be taking center stage as well.
Thanks to the generosity of the Dunham Fund, Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” will be presented free at RiverEdge on Aug. 3.
The play has been adapted and directed by Jeff Award winning director and choreographer David Bell, RiverEdge officials said.
According to RiverEdge Vice President of Programming and Sales Jim Jarvis, the program to be presented by Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks represents nearly a year of work between the group and RiverEdge Park’s President and CEO Tim Rater.
“We are always looking to expand our programming inside and out and this is one of the coolest things we’ve done by having a theatrical piece,” Jarvis said. “The process of getting this show started about a year ago and ended up with getting the ‘Comedy of Errors’ play, which for us is a good fit.”
Rater reached out to the Shakespeare group, Jarvis said, regarding whether having a production at RiverEdge would work and said that ongoing talks with the organization resulted in a meeting about a month ago where logistics were hammered out.
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A semi-truck complete with all the necessary sets will pull into the park on the day of the performance, and actors will be available before the show to talk with members of the audience.
Jarvis said that the board at Aurora’s Dunham Fund was contacted as well about the program and said “they would love to help” which has resulted in bringing the program here to Aurora.
“Since we’ve announced this there has been a great response and we’ve been getting calls particularly from teachers all over the area,” he said. “It’s going to be about a 75-minute show which we think is perfect for an outdoor family event. It’s our happy summer gift to Aurora.”
This will be the only suburban performance by Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks this summer. The group will give 24 performances at city of Chicago parks during the next few months.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at RiverEdge and the show will start at 6:30 p.m. There will be a 10-minute opening act featuring a performance by the Paramount Theatre’s School of Arts which is set to launch June 1.
Concession venues will be open but guests may also bring their own food and beverages if they wish. No alcohol may be brought into the park, officials said.
For more information, call the RiverEdge box office at 630-896-6666.