“THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK”
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
THOMAS M. ROACH
t: 914.422.1411
f: 914.422.1395
MAYOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Wayne Bass, Commissioner
Recreation & Parks Department
Tel: (914) 422-1345
[email protected]
“If music be the food of love, play on…”
Outdoor Shakespeare
Comes to Turnure Park in White Plains!
WHITE PLAINS, NY – July 14, 2014. Last year, Mayor Roach
received a letter from long time White Plains resident, Karen Hanley,
suggesting that the City consider bringing Shakespeare in the Park to
White Plains. A summertime tradition that is enjoyed all over the
world should be enjoyed here in White Plains as well.
Mayor Roach quickly put the wheels in motion to make this a reality.
After meeting with Lou Ursone of Curtain Call Productions, the City
identified Turnure Park off Lake Street as offering the right setting for such a production.
Residents will be familiar with Turnure as the location of the City’s Annual Cherry Blossom
Festival. The performance will take place on the Great Lawn of Turnure Park.
Update: Due to the forecast for unsettled weather early this week, Curtain Call’s production
of William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will be held on Wednesday, July 16th and
Thursday, July 17th. Show time is at 7:00 p.m. on both nights. Should it rain on either
Wednesday or Thursday, the production will go on at our rain location - Eastview School.
This production is free and open to the public.
Picnicking is encouraged! So gather your friends and family, bring your blankets and lawn
chairs, and settle in for what is sure to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
“We are so pleased to be able to offer this new, family-friendly event to our residents in
conjunction with ArtsWestchester,” said Mayor Roach. “We hope this performance of
255 MAIN STREET, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601
www.cityofwhiteplains.com
“THE BIRTHPLACE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK”
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
THOMAS M. ROACH
t: 914.422.1411
f: 914.422.1395
MAYOR
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will herald the start of a wonderful White Plains summertime
tradition!”
Janet Langsam, Executive Director of Arts Westchester said, “ArtsWestchester sends a "bravo"
to Mayor Tom Roach and Parks Commissioner Wayne Bass for bringing Shakespeare in the Park
to White Plains. It is a summer tradition ArtsWestchester is happy to support in our hometown.”
Lou Ursone said, “Curtain Call is thrilled to be bringing our annual Shakespeare on the Green
production to downtown White Plains! We've had a great following in Stamford for 11 years.
Since we've had many performers from Westchester involved with our productions, this was a
perfect fit. And TWELFTH NIGHT is such a delightful comedy. It's perfect for a summer night
on the lawn.”
This event has been made possible in part by our prime sponsor ArtsWestchester. Additional
sponsors of Shakespeare in the Park include Peckham Industries, Stop and Shop, NY
Presbyterian Hospital and the White Plains Public Library.
About Curtain Call Productions: Curtain Call has been producing live theater for nearly 40 years at their home
base, Sterling Farms, in Stamford, Connecticut. Each year they produce 10 to 12 full scale productions, providing
high quality, affordable live entertainment nearly every weekend of the year. Their summer Shakespeare program is
now in its 11th season. www.curtaincallinc.com.
About William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night: Twelfth Night takes place in the kingdom of Illyria and centers
around a nobleman named Orsino who is pining away for the love of Lady Olivia. Orsino cannot have her because
she is in mourning for her dead brother and refuses to entertain any proposals of marriage. Meanwhile, off the coast,
a storm has caused a terrible shipwreck. A young, aristocratic-born woman named Viola is swept onto the Illyrian
shore. Finding herself alone in a strange land, she assumes that her twin brother, Sebastian, has been drowned in the
wreck, and tries to figure out what sort of work she can do. She decides to disguise herself as a man, taking on the
name of Cesario, and goes to work in the household of Duke Orsino. Viola (disguised as Cesario) quickly becomes a
favorite of Orsino, who makes Cesario his page. Viola finds herself falling in love with Orsino—a difficult love to
pursue, as Orsino believes her to be a man. But when Orsino sends Cesario to deliver Orsino’s love messages to the
disdainful Olivia, Olivia herself falls for the beautiful young Cesario, believing her to be a man. The love triangle is
complete: Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario—and everyone is miserable.
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255 MAIN STREET, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10601
www.cityofwhiteplains.com