WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From The Yonkers Tribune, July 14, 2003: Piper Theatre Productions, the only summer stock theatre company based in Yonkers opens its third season of free, professional and accessible drama with production of GIANT a world premiere production directed by company member Thomas Piper at the Yonkers Riverfront Library July 19 and 20th at 8pm.
This is not the first original piece Piper has produced, earlier this year, Johnny Boy’s Graduation written and directed by Mark Nassar, co-creator of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, founder of the Downtown Theatre Club and the LA Drama Desk Nominee for playwrighting for his production of The Mayor’s Limo.
Shakespeare in the Park
Taming of the Shrew directed by Cecilia Rubino and A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by John P. McEneny round out the summer festival of romantic comedies, dubbed Portraits of Love. The company of 60 is made up of actors from Westchester and New York City.
Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeares most entertaining comedies. It is the tale of the bawdy battle of wits and wills between Katherine and Petruchio. In the 1960’s this couple was made famous by the real life steamy duo of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Now, it will be presented live in the classic setting of Untermyer Park.
Shrew Performance Dates: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday July16, 17, and 18th at 7:30 p.m., Untermyer Park.
The free outdoor performances will be held at Untermyer Park located at 945 North Broadway in Yonkers. Samuel Untermyer, the original owner of the estate, and his wife were patrons of the arts and would have lavish parties and shows which included Isadora Duncan dancing in their Grecian Gardens and fountains overlooking the Palisades and Hudson River. It is now owned and maintained by the City of Yonkers.
Following The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, perhaps Shakespeare’s best known comedy, is a dream within a dream filled with fairies, foibles and mistaken identities.
Midsummer Performance Dates: Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays – July 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, and August 1st, Untermyer Park. The Saturday, August 2nd 2 p.m. Performance is at the Riverfront Library.
And finally As You Like It rounds off our romantic comedy season with our Apprentice Company Production. All the actors are area students who have worked so very hard to present an afternoon of Shakespeare assessable to all. These two performances will be held in the beautiful new auditorium of the Yonkers Riverfront Library.
As You Like It, Apprentice Company Performances, are on July 26th and 27th at 2 p.m. the Yonkers Riverfront Library.
This will be the third season of free Summer Shakespeare in Untermyer Park. It was founded in 2001 by John and Rachel McEneny, in the past two seasons over 5,500 people throughout Westchester have attended and experienced Shakespeare in the Park in Yonkers. All are invited to come early, bring chairs or blankets, food, and family and enjoy and evening you thought only possible in New York City.
Local Westchester County Performers in Shrew include: Bruce Sabath* (Hortensio) of Katonah, Ashton Crosy (Gremio) of Bedford, Sean Moran (Luciento), Joe Lauriero (Pedant) and Robbie Hothan of Yonkers, Tal Aviezer (Baptista) of Dobbs Ferry, and Allison Friedland (Biondello) of Mount Vernon.
*Courtesy of Actor’s Equity Association
