City’s first Shakespeare in the Park Along the River draws appreciative audience

About 60 people attended the inaugural Shakespeare in the Park Along the River Friday.

This was a project led by Magnolia Civic Center Manager Emily Draffen as an effort to bring a slightly different type of entertainment to the community. It consisted of several better-known scenes from Shakespeare’s plays interspersed with music by Joe Johnson, all presented on the Riverview Stage.

Draffen said she was pleased with the crowd because no one knew if anyone would attend something new like this. Those who attended obviously enjoyed and responded to the performance.

Plays sampled included A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet.

Cast members included Kell Christie, Kendall Stancil, Chris Tracy, Jeff Posson, Stephen Garrett, Evelyn Mason, Eileen Peterson, Annabelle Gary, Jason Pannell, Clint Reid and Katherine Hardin.

Food trucks were present also so those attending could snack while they enjoyed the performance.

Also on the program were Georgia Cate Conner and Edie Kay Conner who performed before the production.

The program was part of the FreedomFest weekend of activities that concludes with Pedaling for Hope, a special library story time, a barbecue contest, music and fireworks.

For more information about upcoming programs, go to www.magnoliaciviccenter.com or search social media.