Celebrate Shakespeare’s 455th birthday with Pittsburgh troupe
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Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks is celebrating the 455th anniversary of the renowned playwright’s birth with a week-long schedule of special events throughout the city.
The Bard’s Birthday Bash includes:
• April 23: Shakespeare statue salute, 12:15-1:30 p.m. in front of the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Actor Yvonne Hudson, portraying Mrs. Anne Shakespeare, will place flowers on the statue. Cookies will be served, and Friends of Will will perform under the tent in nearby Schenley Plaza.
• April 24: Heroic Happy Hour, 5-7 p.m. at Franktuary in Lawrenceville. Patrons will have a chance to perform or read their favorite Shakespeare pieces impromptu — prizes will be given. Event will feature selfies with Will and more surprises.
• April 25: Instagram photo caption contest, all day at @pghshakespeareparks.
• April 26: Facebook trivia contest, all day at Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks.
• April 27: “Mrs. Shakespeare: Will’s First and Last Love,” solo show by Yvonne Hudson, 7 p.m. at The Pumphouse in Munhall. Through sonnets, songs and soliloquies, with references from about 20 plays, Hudson tells the story of the Bard’s wife, Anne Shakespeare. Tickets at $15 are available at eventbrite.com.
• April 29: Bring Your Own Bard, 7:30 p.m. at Te Cafe in Squirrel Hill. Actors and audience members can perform monologues from Shakespeare’s plays around the theme “Partners in Crime,” featuring henchmen, twins, lovers and other duos.
PSIP will accept donations to support its all-female production of “Julius Caesar,” coming in September.
The outdoor Shakespeare company has been offering free Shakespeare productions in Pittsburgh city parks since 2005.
Details: pittsburghshakespeare.com