The Arnold Community Theatre Troupe will hold a Shakespeare in the Park event this month, after taking a hiatus since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The troupe plans to put on six performances of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” over the next two weekends outside the Arnold Recreation Center, 1695 Missouri State Road.
It will be the troupe’s sixth Shakespeare in the Park production.
Show times will be at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 8-10, and again Friday through Sunday, July 15-17.
Admission is free, but donations to benefit the nonprofit community theater group will be accepted. Concessions will be available for purchase.
“With it being the first Shakespeare (event) after COVID, it’s nice to actually be able to perform again and see everyone,” said Aileen Kidwell of Arnold, the organization’s publicist and one of the actors in this performance.
Sam Puttman of Overland will portray the title role, Julius Caesar; Jacob Grosche of Arnold will play Brutus; John “Jake” Singer of Hillsboro will play Cassius; and Michael Singer of Hillsboro will portray Mark Antony.
In addition to those lead actors and Kidwell, other cast members include Emily Miller of Arnold, Aaron Bartholme of Imperial, Billy Busch of Mehlville, Andrew Miller of south St. Louis County, Chris Kidwell of Arnold, Andrew Johns of St. Louis, Jennifer Singer of Arnold, Shelby Singer of Hillsboro, Lydia Bartholme of Imperial, Nora Bartholme of Imperial and Naomi Bartholme of Imperial.
Shelby Singer is the director, and Puttman is the assistant director. Alex Ney of Herculaneum is the technical director.
Heather Alfaro of Festus is the costume designer, and Allyssa Downs of Arnold works in costumes.
The troupe typically has two other annual events, a one-act festival and a winter show.
Anyone is welcome to join the troupe. Not only are actors needed, but also people are needed to work on costumes, sets, lighting, sound and other duties associated with putting on productions, Kidwell said.
“We’re trying to put together a monthly or quarterly actual member day to play more theater games and hang out as a group,” Kidwell said.
For more information about the troupe, go to its Facebook page or email the group at arnoldtheatre@gmail.com.