Shakespeare Festival begins

Grand Valley's popular Shakespeare Festival begins on Sept. 27 with this year's mainstage production, 'The Merchant of Venice.' Considered one of the Bard's most controversial and often-produced plays, 'Merchant' mixes comedy with drama to tackle such timely themes as romance, greed, religious and racial intolerance, mercy, and social justice. Set in a Renaissance Venice that has been likened to our modern Wall Street, the play unfolds as Antonio ventures to increase his wealth, Bassanio tries to win fair Portia's hand, and Shylock attempts to gain a pound of flesh. All characters eventually land in court to find out whether justice or mercy will prevail.

The play will have eight public performances September 27-October 6 (details below) that feature student and professional cast and crew members. Directing the show is Karen Libman, associate professor of theater at Grand Valley.

'150 Great Places to See Shakespeare'
Grand Valley's Shakespeare Festival, now in its ninth season, is listed in '150 Great Places to See a Shakespeare Play,' which is featured in 'The Shakespeare Book of Lists' (2001) by Michael LoMonico. The author hails the festival as 'a Renaissance sampler of films, plays, concerts, lectures, fairs, and other events' that 'celebrate the glory of William Shakespeare and the period in which he lived.'

Costumes in 'The Merchant of Venice' will certainly prove this statement true: the period clothes are rented from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and the Guthrie Theatre.

Festival Highlights

'The Merchant of Venice'
September 27, 28, and October 2, 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m.
September 28, 29 and October 6 at 2 p.m.
Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $10-$5. For tickets or information, call the box office at (616) 895-2300.

Boarshead Feast
Sunday, September 29, 5 p.m. Tickets: $50; students $30 (Ticket price includes a 2 p.m. performance of 'The Merchant of Venice')
Alumni House and Visitors Center, Allendale Campus.
Tickets must be purchased by September 23. Call (616) 895-2300 for reservations.

'My Life with Shakespeare: An Actor's Reflection' featuring Louis Zorich
September 30, 4 p.m., free admission
Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus, 401 W. Fulton St.
Louis Zorich has appeared in a wide variety of Shakespeare roles in his long career. Zorich has also appeared in films and more than 300 television shows, and co-founded the Whole Theatre in Montclair, NJ, with his wife and fellow actor Olympia Dukakis.

Symposium: ''Do I Not Bleed?' The Meaning of 'Merchant' in Today's World'
October 2, 4 p.m., free admission
Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus.
Though first staged in 1598, many themes in 'The Merchant of Venice' are relevant in 2002. A panel of local community and religious leaders will discuss contemporary messages in Shakespeare's most controversial play. Audience question-and-answer session included.

'Lovestruck' - 3 p.m. October 4; 2 p.m. October 12, free admission
Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center
Special campus presentation of a collage of Shakespeare scenes ordinarily performed in area schools.

Renaissance Festival
Sat., Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free admission
Cook Carillon Tower, Allendale Campus
Period food, music, theater, juggling, children's games, mock sword fighting, minstrels, medieval merchants, and much more. Popular family festival takes place rain or shine.

For tickets or more information on any Shakespeare Festival events, call (616) 895-2300 or visit online at www.gvsu.edu/shakes .