The Montford Park Players in Asheville is North Carolina's Longest Running Shakespeare Festival. Summer productions are outdoors at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay Street, near downtown Asheville. Here is the 2011 Season:

The Patient / The Real Inspector Hound
Feb. 10-20 Asheville Masonic Temple
A double-feature of murder mystery and comedy!

Lysistrata, by Aristophanes
April 14-24 Asheville Masonic Temple
Lysistrata is a comic account of one woman’s extraordinary mission to end The Peloponnesian War. Lysistrata convinces the women of Greece to withhold sexual privileges from their husbands and lovers as a means of forcing the men to negotiate peace, a strategy however that inflames the battle between the sexes.

Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare (abridged) – The Next Generation
May 12-29 Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
The Next Generation! New Director and new cast! Can three guys really cover thirty-seven Shakespeare plays in less than two hours? This fast-firing comedy does just that as it parodies all of the Shakespeare plays (plus the sonnets!) with only three performers in two acts. This play is full of energy as the characters run across the stage and keep you guessing how they will pull off the next play. Clever use of some interesting costumes also adds to the fun.

Double Falsehood/Comedy of Errors, by William Shakespeare
June 3-26 Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
A“double feature” evening of great comedy, including one of the first productions in the United States of this work recently determined to be written at least partly by William Shakespeare!

The Asheville Shakesperience
July 1-3; August 5-7; September 9-18 Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
A return engagement by our resident repertory company with all new material.

All’s Well That Ends Well
July 8-31 Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
Some literature enthusiasts think of All’s Well That Ends Well as a comic tragedy while others call it a tragic comedy. The play exposes the darker side of love — selfishness, deceit, and treachery.

Julius Caesar
Aug 12-Sep 4 Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre
T he classic tragedy of the struggle between the conflicting demands of honour, patriotism, and friendship.

Romeo and Juliet
Oct. 13-23 Asheville Masonic Temple
Shakespeare’s famous play of feuding houses and star crossed lovers.

A Christmas Carol
Dec. 8-18 Asheville Masonic Temple
The 35th presentation of Dickens’ classic tale of greed and redemption!

For outdoor productions, bring an umbrella/raincoat. MPP only cancels if there is a major downpour. Often, it may be raining everywhere except the amphitheatre. People bring fast food, picnic baskets, and candlelight dinners. The concession stand sells drinks and snacks. There is no charge for the productions or parking. For 35 years, they've passed the hat at intermission, and donations are appreciated.

The Montford Park Players performs at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 1 Gay St, Asheville NC 28801. For more information call 828-254-5146 or visit www.montfordparkplayers.org.