A Special Program for Children & Families: The Sword in the Stone

Shoreline Arts Alliance celebrates its 12^th season of FREE to the public Shakespeare on the Shoreline program with an additional special production for children by Shakesperience Productions, Inc.  T.S. White’s  classic, directed by Emily Mattina, Shakesperience's Artistic Director, The Sword in the Stone is sure to entertain children and their families with its engaging story.  There will be two performances.  The performance in Guilford will take place at Jacobs Beach at 10am on August 7 with a second performance at the Madison Surf Club at 1pm on the same day.  The program is approximately 50 minutes in length.  The public is invited to join the Guilford Parks and Recreation summer camp participants or the Madison Beach & Rec campers for these performances (Beach passes or gate fees apply). Bring blankets and chairs and gather under the tent at Jacobs Beach, Seaside Avenue, Guilford or on the deck at the Madison Surf Club, Surf Club Road, Madison. 

Already traveling to venues all over New England, this adaptation of the T.S. White classic encourages reading, imagination, critical thinking, and character development.  With anti-bullying messages framed in the six pillars of character, Shakesperience Productions, Inc.  employs a giant soma cube set with paintings inspired by J.M.W. Turner to show Arthur’s (Curtis Dunn) journey from obscurity to monarchy.  Sorcerer Merlin (Rebecca Brown) and brother Kai (Emily Philio) help and guide him along the way as Arthur meets his destiny.  Join us for this magical and imaginative journey packed with exciting action and wonderful dialogue as it both entertains and educates.  Interactive pre-show discussion and post-show talkback session with the audience will emphasize the lessons and concepts in the story, including honesty, integrity, and treating others as you would like to be treated.

Shakesperience Productions, Inc. is the standard bearer for Shakespeare, as well as theater and literature based outreach in Connecticut.  Over the past fifteen years, Artistic Director Emily Mattina and Managing Director Jeffrey Lapham, have guided Shakesperience to quietly and confidently become a highly valued arts-in-education provider, annually performing over 650 workshops and performances for more than 70,000 students in over 70 communities in Connecticut.

Mark your calendars for August 7 at either 10am or 1pm and join the cast of Shakesperience Productions, Inc. for this special family daytime theatre performance.  Support for this program is provided by Liz & Niall Ferguson.  Then plan on heading to the Guilford Green August 7 – 11, 7:30pm nightly for this summer’s Shakespeare on the Shoreline production of Much Ado About Nothing.  Performances are family-friendly and free to attend.  Bring blankets, chairs and picnic dinners and enjoy an evening of ‘theatre under the stars.’