Royal Palm Beach, Florida (December 12, 2024) The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival is presenting its first wintertime Festival with the Shakespeare by the Palms V production of “As You Like It” on January 30 – February 2 at the Commons Park Amphitheater in Royal Palm Beach. Presented by The Village of Royal Palm Beach and sponsored by Gary and Katherine Parr, the performances take place from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 per person.

“We are incredibly excited to have this multitalented group of artists join us for our first wintertime Shakespeare Festival,” says Shakespeare Festival Managing Producer, Elizabeth Dashiell. “Artistic Director Trent Stephens has put together a brilliant script that plays to the strength of our talented performers and we cannot wait to share it with our year-round residents and seasonal visitors.”

The cast list includes last summer’s Dr. Kevin Crawford Fellowship recipient Lee Ritter (King Lear) in the role of Rosalind; Festival newcomer Tristen Hooks (Big Fish) as Orlando; Company actor Sara Grant (Macbeth, King Lear) as Celia; Madi Fernandez (Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) returning to the Festival in the role of Phoebe; guest artist Ben Lusk as Oliver, and Company veteran performer Daryl Willis as Adam. All performers will play multiple roles, and live music will be performed by guest artist Ben Lusk (Forlorn Strangers, The Rally Club).

“As You Like It” follows the resourceful Rosalind and her friends as she journeys from the Royal Court to the Forest of Arden. Disguised as a shepherd, Rosalind encounters her love, Orlando, and decides to befriend him as a shepherd boy and cure Orlando of his “lovesickness” for Rosalind. Witty words and romance play out while the disputes between a pair of brothers comes to a happy ending for all.

Guests attending the production are invited to bring a beach chair or blanket, picnic basket and enjoy on-site concessions each evening. For more information, please visit pbshakespeare.org.

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s 35^th Anniversary Season continues with the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department partnered Shakespeare by the Sea production of The Winter’s Tale on July 10 – 20, 2025, Thursdays through Sundays at the Seabreeze Amphitheater in Carlin Park, Jupiter.

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s Shakespeare by the Palms V and Shakespeare by the XXXV productions are made possible thanks to generous support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Village of Royal Palm Beach, The Palm Beach County Cultural Council and Gary & Katherine Parr. Additional funding is provided by Frank Cona & Lisa Calberg and an Anonymous Donor.  Visit pbshakespeare.org for more information.

Calendar Listing-

Village of Royal Palm Beach and Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival present

5^th Annual Shakespeare by the Palms

As You Like It

January 30 – February 2, 2025

Commons Park Amphitheater

11600 Poinciana Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

Banished from her kingdom, the resourceful Rosalind and her friends escape to the forest where they are free to explore new identities, friendships, and love in this delightful romantic comedy. Free admission, bring beach chair or blanket and a picnic basket or enjoy on-site concessions.

ABOUT THE PALM BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

The Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)3 professional theater company dedicated to enhancing the accessibility and appreciation for Shakespearean, classic and contemporary theater for all ages and socioeconomic levels. For more information about the Festival, its history or its season, please visit www.pbshakespeare.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Elizabeth Dashiell
561-543-8276
[email protected]

Photos ©Jeffrey Langlois
1. Tristen Hooks and Lee Ritter as Orlando and Rosalind in "As You Like It" (c)Jeffrey Langlois

2. Lee Ritter as Rosalind in "As You Like It" (c)Jeffrey Langlois

3. Tristen Hooks as Orlando in "As You Like It" (c)Jeffrey Langlois

4. Logo – “As You Like It”