This summer, the Shake on the Lake (SOTL) Summer Theatre Festival brings national theatrical talent to set up stage outdoors on the shores of Silver Lake, New York for its inaugural season. Founded in 2011 as the first live outdoor summer theatre festival in Wyoming County, the mission of the festival “is to entertain, engage and enrich those in the community by creating professional theatre productions in a natural outdoor setting.”

The company of Josh Rice, Chad Bradford, and Austin Blunk will perform The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield on July 26, 27, and 28 at the Village of Perry Public Beach.

Shows will be every evening at 6:30pm, with a matinee performance on July 28th at 2:00pm. Cost of admission is $10.

Shake on the Lake is the brainchild of Josh Rice, a Theatre Artist who grew up on the shores of Silver Lake, NY. After graduating from Perry High School in 1999, he pursued a career in the theatre, including stints at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, at Geva Theatre Center, the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre, the Arkansas Art Center Children’s Theatre, ImprovLittleRock, and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Although he has traveled far from Perry, he has always had a dream of bringing live, outdoor theatre to his hometown. While visiting last summer, Josh was inspired by the revitalization of Main Street in downtown Perry when he first considered bringing live Shakespeare to the area: "The rejuvenation of Perry's Main Street inspired me to do what I loved, and give back to the community that gave me so much growing up. And the best way I knew to give back was through the arts," says Rice.

With the support of the Arts Council for Wyoming County, the Village of Perry, and members of the Perry/Silver Lake community, Mr. Rice will be doing just that – producing the first live outdoor theatre festival in the county. The stage for the performances will be the Village of Perry Public Beach, with the picturesque landscape of Silver Lake contributing as the backdrop of the festival. Silver Lake has had a history of contributing to the arts in New York State, dating back to the late 19th Century with the establishment of the Silver Lake Institute, an artistic and cultural retreat of the period.

The Shake on the Lake Company also includes two other nationally renowned theatre artists, Chad Bradford (M.F.A. Acting, Penn St. University), and rising young talent, Austin Blunk (Junior B.F.A. student at SCAD). Mr. Bradford, Mr. Blunk, and Mr. Rice first met as performers in Little Rock, AR in 2005, and have collaborated frequently over the years.

Educational Outreach Workshops: Summer 2012

In addition to performances of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield, Shake on the Lake will also include Educational Outreach Workshops in Stage Combat, Interpreting Shakespeare, Improv Comedy and Shakespeare Out-Loud, a community-wide read-through of Romeo & Juliet. Workshops take place at various locations in the Perry-Silver Lake area in July, as listed here:

• Improv Comedy for Adults: "It is extempore, from my mother-wit." To think spontaneously, like Petruchio in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, can lead you to comedic glory on stage. Through various improvisational exercises and games, this workshop will give students the tools to think on their feet like some of Shakespeare's most famous comedic characters, and find the funny in everyday situations. If you're a fan of Whose Line is it Anyway? this workshop is for you.
  Instructor: Josh Rice
  Ages: 18 and up
  Date/Time: Thu 7/12 from 6-9pm
  Location: Stoody Hall at the Silver Lake Institute (Silver Lake, NY)
  Cost: $25 per person


• Combat and Language: Using Shakespeare's language to determine action and combat. Through identifying and utilizing imbedded stage-directions, students will learn when and how combat is directed in the text. Students will also learn basic stage combat skills.
  Instructor(s): Chad Bradford
  Ages: 14 and up
  Date/Time: Sat 7/14 from 2-4pm
  Location: Arts Council for Wyoming County (Main St. in Perry, NY)
  Cost: $20 per person


• Groundlings Onstage! Shakespeare Out-Loud: Whether you're a Shakespeare lover or hater, his plays were meant to be read aloud. His prose and poetry, when spoken with panache, can make even the novice reader, sound like a seasoned actor. In this workshop, open to the public, the Groundlings of Wyoming County, are invited to "take the stage" in a public reading of Romeo and Juliet.
  Instructor(s): The Shake on the Lake Company
  Ages: All ages
  Date/Time: Tue 7/17 from 6-9pm
  Location: Burlingham Books (Main St. in Perry, NY)
  Cost: Free


• Intro to Verse: What is iambic pentameter and why should I care? This class will explore the use of Shakespeare's verse and how it can be used to assist the actor when creating a role. Through games and exploration of the text, students will gain a visceral understanding of the way Shakespeare's language provides the "two hours traffic" on the stage.
  Instructor(s): Chad Bradford
  Ages: 14 and up
  Date/Time: Thu 7/19 from 7-8pm
  Location: Burlingham Books (Main St. in Perry, NY)
  Cost: $10 per person