The Arnold Community Theatre Troupe will perform the “The Winter’s Tale” for this year’s Shakespeare in the Park festival. The troupe has six performances scheduled over the next two weekends near the pavilion outside the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday (June 22 to June 24) and Friday through Sunday (June 29 to July 1).
At 7 p.m., before each performance, there will be a puppet show summarizing the play.
Admission is free, but donations to the troupe will be accepted.
“We always appreciate donations,” troupe spokeswoman Sarah Kidwell said.
Concessions will be sold to benefit the troupe.
“The Winter’s Tale,” a comedy and one of Shakespeare’s later plays, tells the story of King Leontes, whose jealously leads him to try to poison his best friend, imprison his wife and abandon his daughter. After a series of coincidences, however, the king has a change of heart and all ends well.
The play features a 17-member cast and is directed Jake Singer.
Billy Busch plays the lead role, King Leontes, and Tory Davidson plays the king’s wife, Hermione.
“Oh, and there’s a bear,” Kidwell said.
The Arnold Community Theater Troupe has been holding the Shakespeare in the Park festival for four years, she said.
Kidwell said the outdoor shows usually draw a bigger crowd than the troupe’s indoor shows.
“It’s nice. You can find your own spot, spread a blanket or bring a lawn chair, and on a nice summer night, enjoy some theater,” she said. “We love putting it on.”
Kidwell said it’s also fun for local residents who might recognize someone in the cast.
“It’s an opportunity to see your next door neighbor up on the stage,” she said.
The Arnold Community Theater Troupe was formed six years ago and has between 25 and 30 active members, Kidwell said.
“Different plays bring different people,” she said.
For more information about the upcoming performance of “The Winter’s Tale,” visit bit.ly/acttwinterstale.