Two Nights of Free Shakespeare in Agawam Park With Hip to Hip Theatre

Fresh off its tour in New York City, Hip to Hip Theatre Company offers Southampton audiences a chance to enjoy one of Shakespeare’s late romances and one of his most popular comedies. “The Winter’s Tale,” directed by David Frederick Mold, and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” directed by Jason Marr, will be performed in rotating repertory under the stars on consecutive nights in Agawam Park on Friday, August 23, and Saturday, August 24. Showtime for both performances is 7:30 p.m. and admission is free. The group will also present “Kids & the Classics” a workshop for children, prior to each performance.

“We are keeping rep alive,” said Joy Marr, co-founder of Hip to Hip Theatre, adding that in repertory, an acting company rehearses multiple plays and performs them on a rotating basis. “It’s a feat of memorization and talent to see the actors change from show to show. This year is especially amazing because each actor plays multiple roles within each show, which means they are preparing four to five Shakespearean roles at once.”

The repertory system also provides opportunities for up-and-coming actors to work alongside more experienced professionals. Former actors with the troupe have been featured this year in “Mean Girls” the musical film, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” and at major regional theaters across the U.S.

“It’s an honor to be a part of these young actors’ journeys,” Marr added.

Over the past 17 years, Hip to Hip has been working through the cannon of Shakespeare’s plays. Out of the 38 plays — which includes a few that were probably co-written by Shakespeare — Hip to Hip has produced 28 of them.

In “The Winter’s Tale,” which will be performed in Agawam Park on Friday night, August 23, King Leontes falsely accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity with his best friend. Consumed by jealousy, he makes a series of catastrophic decisions that tear his family apart and leaves his newborn daughter abandoned. Sixteen years later, can time bring healing and reconciliation?

“I find audiences are captivated by Shakespeare’s telling of this tale, from the powerful and emotional first acts to the surprising final scene,” explained the play’s director, David Frederick Mold. “It’s a decades-long journey of personal and political reconciliation and redemption. I am thrilled to finally have a chance to direct this play which has intrigued me since I first saw it over 30 years ago in a compelling production at The Public Theatre directed by James Lapine. It is an artistic joy to explore the play’s psychology, emotional pain, and multiple story lines about the power of love.”

On Saturday night, August 24, Hip to Hip Theatre performs “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which tells the tale of four young lovers who escape the tyranny of the court to find love in a magical forest. On the same night and in the same forest, the king and queen of the fairies declare war on each other, and a company of amateur actors meet to rehearse a play. See what happens when a mischievous sprite called Puck weaves their three stories into one.

“‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is Shakespeare’s most popular play for a reason,” said director Jason Marr. “This is my fifth time working on it and I’m still discovering new layers of brilliance. Pairing it with ‘The Winter’s Tale’ offers audiences an added treat because the plays complement each other so well. Beyond the summer-winter contrast, they provide thematic echoes such as love and marriage, personal freedom, magic and the healing power of nature.”

Both performances will be preceded at 7 p.m. by “Kids & the Classics,” a companion piece to Hip to Hip’s program of “Free Shakespeare in the Parks.” Offered 30 minutes before each performance, this free interactive workshop is designed for children ages 4 to 12. It gives children a chance to interact with the text by previewing the characters and situations, and creating links with their own lives through theater games and close reading of text.

Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket or low chairs and picnic fare, and enjoy Shakespeare in the open air. No tickets are necessary. Seating is first come, first served.

The repertory cast includes: Neev Bar-David, Konnor Brown, Chaunice Chapman, Nicole Marie Hunt, Dayron Leon, Axel Marr, Bree Marr, Jason Marr, Joy Marr, Mikaya Martin, Nancy Nichols, Parmeet Singh and Stephanie Jeane Toussaint.

The production team includes: costume designer Nancy Nichols; production stage manager Timmy Costello; assistant director Anna Belden; sound designer Terry Chun; costume assistants Mikayla Carleo and Kiki Sanchez; and production assistant Xavier Rodriguez.

Agawam Park is at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton. For more details, visit hiptohip.org, visit scc-arts.org or call 631-287-4377.