Pigeon Creek Shakespeare presents 'As You Like It'

The Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, West Michigan's own touring Shakespeare company, will visit the Dog Story Theater, 7 Jefferson SE in Grand Rapids, with its exciting new production of Shakespeare's As You Like It.  Performances will take place November 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 8 p.m., and November 11 and 18 at 3 p.m..  Tickets are $14 for adults and $8 for students and seniors, and are available at www.dogstorytheater.com.

Shakespeare’s As You Like It follows the adventures of Rosalind, the daughter of a duke, whose father is banished from his dukedom by his usurping brother.  After falling in love at first sight with a young man named Orlando, Rosalind sets off for the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia, in search of her banished father.  In order to travel more safely, Rosalind disguises herself as a boy, which causes complications when she runs into Orlando in the forest.  Pigeon Creek’s productions features actors Lauren Vesbit as Rosalind and Riley Van Ess as Orlando, along with Michael Dodge, Kimi Griggs, Kat Hermes, Ashley Normand, Eric Orive, Sarah Stark, Brad Sytsma, John Vesbit, and Scott Wright.  The production, directed by Dennis Henry, sets the action of Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy in the 1960s, featuring live musical performance.

Prior to these performances in Grand Rapids, the production has performed in Manistee, Spring Lake, Jenison, and Jonesville.  Pigeon Creek's actors adapt their performance to each venue to create a lively, audience-interactive atmosphere.  Company executive director Katherine Mayberry says, "The Dog Story Theater is one of our favorite places to perform, because every audience member is close to the action of the play.  It gives audiences an intimate experience of performance."