Merced ShakespeareFest

This is not much ado about nothing. It’s not funny. It actually hurts. The local arts community suffered a couple major setbacks last week when both Merced Shakespearefest and Playhouse Merced were hit by burglars and valuable theater production property was stolen. The first tragedy unfolded when Heike and David Hambley returned to…

Merced Shakespearefest opened its production of the classic “As You Like It” at Applegate Park’s MOAT stage last weekend. The free Shakespeare…

Merced Shakespearefest is still Merced’s local Shakespeare company after 22 years, and yet the productions are getting more and more regional.…

William Shakespeare once said, "How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world." In the same way, inspiration and joy radiates a great deal from grassroots theatre productions. In a time where a large percentage of popular media suffers due to mainstream conformity, it is increasingly more…

Merced Shakespearefest — the local Shakespeare company — is starting its 23rd season in 2023. And they’re on a roll. The 2022 season was complete with…

This coming weekend you can see magical fairies hiding in the woods, simple and funny workmen putting on a hilarious play, and watch the Queen of…

After a two year hiatus, the Shakespeare in the Park program has once again brought colorful costumes, poetry, fight scenes, and dramatic acting to the Merced Open Air Theater at Applegate Park. The 22nd Season started last weekend with “Henry IV, Part 1,” and the free shows continue this Saturday, June 25, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.,…

For three years, audiences and the local Shakespeare company, Merced Shakespearefest, had to wait for FREE Shakespeare in the Park — the fine,…

This week, the Times received a press release from the Merced ShakespeareFest with the following news: “With much sadness and disappointment, the local…

This 20th season is a busy time for Merced Shakespearefest! Not only are directors and editors, dramaturgs and composers working on post production for the bilingual web episodes of “Don Quixote de La Merced,” which was filmed in May, but Artistic Director Heike Hambley is working on the concept of this year’s FREE Shakespeare in…