Tulsa's American Theatre Company presents "As You Like It"

On the lawn at Philbrook Museum of Art

Love at first sight, a wrestling match, cross-dressing and a fool! Shakespeare’s delightful, romantic comedy As You Like It boasts all four, cleverly intertwined with the trials and triumphs of love. Exiled from court, Rosalind ventures into the idyllic Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia and the fool, Touchstone, only to discover her true love, Orlando, awaits her. What follows is an elaborate scheme to capture his heart through her witty and playful ploy: instruct Orlando how to woo a woman while disguised as a boy. As You Like It explores the vast and varied incarnations of love culminating in a woodland wedding extravaganza!

By the time Shakespeare wrote As You Like It in 1599, he already had seven other comedies under his belt, including Love's Labour's Lost (1594) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595). 1599 was a particularly creative year for Shakespeare. Besides As You Like It, he also wrote Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry V.

As You Like It features one of the most famous passages in Shakespeare: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Although the idea was already a cliché by the time Shakespeare wrote these lines, the passage pretty much sums up As You Like It, a drama in which play-acting and fantasy are the names of the game.

As You Like It is under the direction of long time ATC company member, William Fears. In the past he directed Night Mother and Hedda Gabbler for ATC. A few of the ATC productions he has appeared in include Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Merchant of Venice, The Miser, Dracula, The Ruling Class, and A Christmas Carol. The scenic design is by Richard Ellis and costumes are designed by Paulette Record.

The cast includes Chris Williams (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Greg Roach (The Glass Menagerie); Joyce Martel (The Taming of the Shrew); Mvnte July (She Kills Monsters); Bailey Workman (A Midsummer Night’s Dream); Ashley Morecraft (Wait Until Dark); Justin McKean (Superior Donuts); Matthew Lindsey (Superior Donuts); Victor Muse (Twelve Angry Men); and David Garcia (A Christmas Carol).

Also in As You Like It and new to American Theatre Company are Adrian Alexander, Tom Allen, Deborah Campbell, Charles Davis, Christina Elizabeth and James Whitson.

As You Like It runs from June 5 - 13. Tickets are $20, $15 for seniors, students and Philbrook members and $10 for those 10 and under. Purchase tickets at MyTicketOffice.com or call (918) 596-7111. Tickets are also available at Philbrook the night of the show. The Philbrook grounds will open at 6:30 for picnicking and curtain time is 8pm. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and a picnic basket to the lawn at Philbrook for Shakespeare under the stars.

As You Like It is presented with assistance from TriArch, Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Saied Music Company, GuRuStu, KTUL TV, and Tulsa People Magazine.

The Gayly – June 4, 2015 @ 12pm.