Live theater can be a great way to kick off summer. On Monday night, Grassroots Shakespeare performed a free production of "Antony & Cleopatra" under the stars at Kiwanis Park.
Grassroots Shakespeare Company performs various free Shakespeare shows around Utah. They try to make all performances Shakespeare-authentic. Meaning, no designers, no props, no director, no gender-specific casting and little rehearsal time.
"The process is so much fun because we don't have a director," Grassroots actor Catherine Moulton said. "Everything is collaborative as a cast."
Each show starts with a musical performance, complete with a live band. Guitar, xylophone, violin, flute and percussion are all important pieces of the production.
"It felt very real and it was very entertaining to watch. I loved it," Alena Cobia, an attendee of "Antony & Cleopatra" said.
Unlike a typical Shakespeare performance, Grassroots tries to make everything understandable and interactive. The humorous elements make it fun for families of all ages.
"It's so fun to be able to present it in a way so that the audience can experience Shakespeare in a way that isn't scary, or high-brow or boring, but can be really fun and immersive," Moulton said.
The production of "Antony & Cleopatra" was provided as a service by the Provo Library. The production featured a small cast, band and a set that can be broken down immediately after every performance.
"I like that it's outside," Brielle Paul, an attendee of the show, said. "Shakespeare in the park vibes are very fun."
For some, Grassroots has become a first introduction to theater.
Evelyn Bigelow, a theater student at BYU and long-time Grassroots fan, shared her thoughts.
"Without Grassroots, I don't know if I would've had the same introduction to theater and Shakespeare," Bigelow said.
In the digital age, the arts can be a great way to connect with the community.
"Theater —especially free theater in the park — is designed to break through the walls that have been built between us," Alexandra Vaughn, a cast member of the show, said.
Grassroots hopes their performances can shed a new light on what Shakespearean Theater can be. During the fall, they perform at schools around Utah.
"We really just want them to walk away and say, 'Shakespeare is really fun,' Whether they knew that before or not," Moulton said.
Grassroots is a licensed 501(c)(3), working through donations and sponsors. They do various free performances around Utah. Their next Provo performance will be "Much Ado About Nothing" in July. For more information, visit the Grassroots Shakespeare Company website.