June 2009: Cole Porter’s song “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” from Kiss Me, Kate, is a good summary of the place of Shakespeare in American theater. From the documentary Shakespeare in American Life: "From the very beginning, America has sought to make Shakespeare an honorary citizen. Whether we’ve done that or not, one thing is clear—and that is that on the stage, within the realm of performance, Americans have certainly made Shakespeare our own, bringing to the performance of Shakespeare American passion, American language, and American innovation.”

The Montford Park Players' free season of Theatre Under The Stars continues through June 28 with A Midsummer Night's Dream, followed by the rarely-performed Cymbeline, opening July 10 - 25. The Asheville Shakesperience, the Players' resident repertory company, will return for special performances July 3 & 4, and August 28 through Sept. 5. Taming of the Shrew premieres July 31 through August 23, and the Players will close the 2009 summer season with Macbeth, opening September 11 through Oct. 4.

The 37th summer season of North Carolina's Longest Running Shakespeare Festival will salute the "Stalwart Women of Shakespeare", as an all-female quintet of directors, Rhonda Parker, Charlotte Lawrence, Mary Landingham Dillon, Mandy Phillips and Stephanie Hickling, take the stage to present Shakespeare's leading ladies.

Please bring a picnic and join The Montford Park Players each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 1 Gay St, Asheville NC 28801. Performances begin promptly at 7:30 pm and are free to the public. For more information call 828-254-5146 or visit www.montfordparkplayers.org.