For more than 20 years, the summer months have welcomed Shakespeare into local park throughout the Santa Clarita Valley with free performances for the community. This year the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival has found a new home at Towsley Canyon Park; located at the “gateway” to the Santa Clarita Valley just off the I-5 Freeway.

In past years, the productions have bravely toured with no lighting, minimal scenery, costuming, and amplification, and all while performing in the heat of the late afternoon sun. The company—including the actors—would transport the show into a park in the morning, perform in the afternoon, then have to strike and move to the new location for the next day’s performance.

“It was very taxing on everyone”, says David Stears, founder of the original event in 1990 and producer of the Shakespeare series for ten years. “Our new location will allow us to create a fuller experience for the audience, with greater theatricality: more extensive scenery, lighting and sound. We can create experiences we could not achieve with the small traveling shows.”

Just off the Calgrove exit on the 5 Freeway, at 24255 The Old Road, is sleepy Towsley Canyon Park. Upon entering through the old wooden gates, there are two abandoned, earthquake damaged buildings and the remnants of what were once animal stalls. A thick layer of natural debris, leaves and branches cover the ground just opposite the dirt parking lot where those setting off on one of the beautiful trails of the canyon must first enter. This façade of decay, however, is soon to change, as the abandoned park will be Shakespeare’s new home for the summer.

.“It is a wonderful location, and I believe that it is brimming with potential,” says David Stears, the executive director of the company. “This park is at the gateway to our community and a perfect location to hold events and festivals.”Working with the City of Santa Clarita, as well as dozens of local businesses and volunteers, the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is clearing away years of debris and creating a temporary performance space for the production. The area not only needs to be cleared and leveled for audience seating, but will also have power brought in to allow for lights and sound, as well fencing for security.

The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is reaching out to the community to make this project a reality. “This new location will allow the festival to grow, and perhaps give other groups and festivals a new venue in our community”, says Stears.  “Someday there may even be an amphitheatre.”

This year’s production is William Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST, directed by Mark McQuown. The new location allows for greater audience comfort and services with vendors available for food and refreshments, as well as pre-show entertainment for those arriving early. Performances will start at 8:00 PM, which will make for a “cooler” evening. Gates will open at 6:00 PM for food and refreshments, with pre-show activities and entertainment beginning at 6:30 PM. THE TEMPEST opens July 17th, and runs Saturday and Sunday nights through August 1st. Towsley Canyon is easily accessible from all local freeways at 24255 The Old Road; exit Calgrove from the 5 Freeway. All performances are free, open to the public, and suitable for all ages. Bring the family and a blanket for an evening of fine performance and fare.

For more information about Shakespeare in the Park, or the company, please contact the Executive Director, David Stears at (661) 513-3538. Or at davidstears@scshakespearefest.orm. For detailed directions to Towsley Canyon Park or information about the company, visit our website at: www.scshakespearefest.org or www.facebook.com/SCShakespeareFest