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Center Valley, PA: July 24, 2024— Complete with an energetic cast, whimsical sock puppets, and delightful sing-a-longs, Shakespeare for Kids (S4K) opens at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. Catch this fun-filled show at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the DeSales University campus or at various libraries in the Lehigh Valley now through August 3.
Using a combination of songs, puppets, and scenes from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Erin Sheffield adapts William Shakespeare’s lively comedy into a dynamic, one-hour performance designed for children ages 4 to 10. With an original and delightful score by Andrew Kane, this adaptation offers 60 minutes of engaging entertainment, bringing Shakespeare’s vibrant language and characters directly to young audiences.
With a different play from Shakespeare’s canon serving as the subject for Sheffield’s works and featured as the main theme of the show each year, this year’s message, “let me be me, and you be you,” comes directly from the plot of Twelfth Night.
Guiding the audience through this family-friendly “Shakespearience” is none other than S4K’s Team Shakespeare, featuring the dynamic trio: Tyler Borneo, Ciara Kelley, and Gabrielle Moseley.
Joining Sheffield and Kane on the creative team are Director Matt Pfeiffer and Stage Manager Leviathan A. Briggs.
For the first time S4K is thrilled to hit the road this summer with a mini tour—kicking off at the Allentown Public Library on July 26. All performances begin at 11am, are free to attend, and open to the public; schedule as follows:
Friday, July 26th at Allentown Public Library
Saturday, July 27th at Lower Macungie Library
Wednesday, July 31st at Bucks County Free Library (Quakertown Branch)
Thursday, August 1st at Hellertown Area Library
Performances on the Main Stage at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts: Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival will offer a sensory-friendly Relaxed Performance of S4K at 10am, on Saturday, August 3 at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University. A Relaxed Performance is a sensory-friendly show which creates a judgement-free and inclusive environment for patrons with a wide range of sensory and communication differences, including individuals on the autism spectrum, young children, and people of all abilities and ages who would benefit from a relaxed experience.
For the performances on the Main Stage at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts: Tickets can be purchased online at pashakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at 610.282.WILL [9455], ext. 1, or in person at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of DeSales University, in Center Valley.
The Production Sponsors for Shakespeare for Kids are Brenda & John McGlade.
The Festival’s 2024 Season Sponsors are Lee and Dolly Butz. The Associate Season Sponsors are Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth, Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan, the Szarko Family, and Harry C. Trexler Trust.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, features acclaimed actors from Broadway, television, and film, and is the summer home to over 200 artists from around the country, including winners and nominees of the Tony, Obie, Emmy, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Jefferson, and Barrymore Awards.
The 2024 Summer Season—Now to August 4, 2024
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Artistic Leadership:
JASON KING JONES (Artistic Director) Prior to moving to the Lehigh Valley with his family, Jason spent ten years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players, America’s longest-running touring theatre company. In the past twenty-five years Jason directed over seventy-five productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various in school and summer educational programs. He is an Acting Company alumnus, a proud member of the PSF Board, and a member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s IDEAA Committee, and Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit & Business Partners Council. Jason holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Missouri State and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.
CASEY WILLIAM GALLAGHER (Managing Director) has worked at PSF for 26 seasons. Over the years he was a box office intern, a stage management intern, the assistant house manager, box office manager, company manager, assistant producer, director of development and worked directly with PSF Founder Jerry Schubert in the early years of the organization. Since 2004, in his role as general manager and later managing director, he served as the administrative leader of the festival, working very closely with former Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy and the box office, business, development, marketing and production departments. Casey now serves as co-leader of the Festival with Artistic Director Jason King Jones. Beyond PSF, Casey was treasurer for the Shakespeare Theatre Association, director of audience services for The People’s Light & Theatre Company, a board member for Civic Theatre of Allentown, a peer panelist for the New Jersey Council on the Arts and a judge for the Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for excellence in theatre. Casey thanks the PSF year-round staff, the summer staff, the WillPower Tour staff, the Festival board of directors, the volunteer Guild and all the other stakeholders who contribute and play a part in bringing theatre to life onstage and in our community.
Actor Bios
TYLER BORNEO (Self) is a rising sophomore at DeSales and is part of PSF’s Young Company. DeSales: The Drowsy Chaperone (George), Twelfth Night (Orsino’s court musician, u/s Sir Andrew Aguecheek, u/s Captain), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Jean-Michel).
CIARA KELLEY (Self) (she/they) is a recent graduate of DeSales. She is joining PSF’s young company this summer. Ciara recently portrayed The Cricket in DeSales’ Act 3 production of Pinocchio! They have also been heavily involved in the electrics and prop crews during their time at DeSales.
GABRIELLE MOSELEY (Self) (she/her) is a recent DeSales graduate. DeSales: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van De Graff), Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble), Intimate Apparel (Mrs. Dickson), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda).
Creative Bios
LEVIATHAN A. BRIGGS (Stage Manager) is joining us from Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. This season is their debut with the Festival! They’re a rising senior at Illinois Wesleyan University, studying Theatrical Design and Technology with an emphasis in Stage Management.
ANDREW KANE (Composer) wrote the script for the festival’s production of Little Red, performed in 16 productions at PSF, and wrote the music for all of Erin Sheffield’s Shakespeare For Kids series. Other acting credits include: Arden Theatre, Festival Stage of Winston-Salem, Lantern Theater, Theatre Exile, Theatre Horizon, and People’s Light where he is a member of the resident company. His plays have been produced or developed by Montgomery Theater, Bristol Riverside Theatre, and 1812 Productions. His short fiction has been published in journals housed by the Universities of Chicago, Denver, Montana, New Mexico, NC Greensboro, NC Pembroke, and Tennessee, as well as Georgia College, Johns Hopkins, Vassar, and elsewhere. BA, DeSales University. MFA, Warren Wilson College.
MATT PFEIFFER (Director) (he/him) is back for his 25th season at PSF! He’s acted and/or directed over 50 productions with the Festival. Other credits include Arden Theatre, People’s Light & Theatre, Lantern Theater, InterAct, 1812 Productions, Delaware Theatre Co, Theatre Horizon, Walnut St Theatre, Bristol Riverside, and DeSales University among others. Matt is a 12-time Barrymore nominee and winner for best Director for The Whale and The Invisible Hand both with Theatre Exile. He’s a proud DSU grad (‘99) and a recipient of the F. Otto Haas Award.
ERIN SHEFFIELD (Playwright) 22nd PSF season. PSF Credits: Pride and Prejudice (director), Education Director (2006-2011), and she has taught at DeSales and directed for Act 1 productions. Member of Actors’ Equity Association. Favorite roles: Viola, Twelfth Night at PSF; and Anne of Green Gables (Barrymore nomination) People’s Light in Malvern, where she is the General Manager and Company Member. MFA: Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House. Proud graduate of DeSales University.
Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Louise Slak
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
The Professional Theatre at DeSales University
2755 Station Avenue
Center Valley, PA 18034
p: 610-282-WILL [9455]
www.pashakespeare.org
