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Show Shakespearean Festival experiences Growing Pains When the 16th annual Utah Shakesperean Festival opens July 14 in Cedar City, guests will be greeted by three new signs of growth and expansion. A matinee play production, produc-tion, THE MIKADO, is being added to the traditional three Shakespearean plays, the Adams Memorial Shakespearean Theatre building is completed and ready for dedication, and the production season is being extended to accommodate the ever-increasing audiences. Stressing the idea that the Festival can be an entire experience, Founding Director Fred C. Adams said, "We are particularly pleased with the three plays chosen for this season, ROMEO AND JULIET, CORIOLANUS, and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. Choice of these three will offer a balanced program of Shakespearean entertainment, en-tertainment, from comedy to romance to tragedy. "In addition, the Festival is beginning a new direction with the afternoon matinee presentation of THE MIKADO. Although Oriental in setting, Gilbert and Sullivan have done the play with a typically British atmosphere, and this English atmosphere we are carefully preserving." Another first for the Festival was noted in March, when casting and company selection meetings were held in Cedar City. These meetings, which are usually held in New York City and Las Vegas, were attended by all the 1977 directors, producers, and other top personnel. Holding the meetings in Cedar City provided orientation to this area and Festival complex for newcomers, and also permitted per-mitted earlier planning and selection of company for the 1977 season. This advance planning is necessary to prepare for the anticipated crowds who will attend this summer. The 1976 season broke Festival records with over 20,000 patrons attending, and advance ticket sales for 1977 indicate another sell-out season, even including the extra week. Special festivities are planned for opening night of the 1977 season. Culminating many years of planning and work, the Festival building will be dedicated, and several distinguished guests are expected to attend, including in-cluding Governor and Mrs. Scott L. Matheson,- former Governor and Mrs. Calvin L. Rampton, Mr. Dean E. Eggertsen, and Dr. and Mrs. Obert C. Tanner. The building is named in honor of Luella Adams, mother of Mrs. Tanner. Many company com-pany members from former Festival seasons are also expected for the opening night dedication. Also as part of the opening ceremonies, a Bard's Banquet will be new. mi. Adams states that the banquet, which proved very successful last season, provides friends of the Festival an opportunity to eat food familiar to the people of Shakespeare s time. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. opening night, and has become another ot the continuing Shakespearean Festival traditions. Tickets for the 1977 season may be purchased by mail through the Festival Box Office. Please list alternate nights , if possible, or for information call 801-586-3636. The Box Office will be open daily beginning June 6. |