Wild West Shakespeare Returns at Heritage Farm - USU States...

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Wild West Shakespeare Returns at Heritage Farm

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Published: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 Updated: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 11:06

Shakespeare, or perhaps his goofy cousin, returns to the American West Heritage Center in Wellsville with this year's comedy production of "A Whole Lotta Fussin' Over Nothin'", a melodrama adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing by Logan resident Wendi Hassan. The show opens June 17 and runs most Fridays and Saturdays June through August. Directed by Lynda Linford, borrowed from the Old Lyric Repertory Company and USU, the production features dancing, singing, and comedy aplenty as the Wild West Shakespeare company has Wild West fun for its second consecutive season. The show begins at 7 pm, but viewers are encouraged to come as early as 5 pm for Wild West activities such as wagon rides, tomahawk Nikki Baum and Loren Honeycutt as Beatrice throwing, steer roping, panning for gold, and others. and Ben, the famous word-sparring duo. The cast Audience members may also add a chuck wagon dinner-sings "Our Apologies To Shakespeare" provided by Elements Restaurant--to their experience for $10. The show itself costs $10 ($8 for children; under 6 years of age strongly discouraged). Reservations are required and can be obtained by contacting the American West Heritage Center at (435) 245-6050. Tickets may be purchased online, and specic dates and times can be found on the Heritage Center's website: awhc.org . The American West Heritage Center is a nonprot organization devoted to celebrating and preserving the heritage of our area.

Cast members include Nikki Baum and Loren Honeycutt in the famous roles of Ben and Beatrice. Clyde (Claude in the original play) and Hero are played by Bradley Rasmussen and Carly Heaps. Other ensemble actors include Marianne Sidwell, Melody Francis, Jon Ramsten, and Leah Adkins. Rachel Ramsten is the sound effects artist backstage, adding percussion and other interesting sounds throughout the production. Teresa Jones plays the dastardly Jenny--Don Jon from Shakespeare's

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Wild West Shakespeare Returns at Heritage Farm - USU States...

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original text. Karen Tew returns this year as the company's melodrama pianist. Music was composed by Marianne Sidwell and Becky Hainsworth.

Playwright Wendi Hassan, a familiar face and name to many in the arts in Utah, is currently associated with the Utah Arts Council and several arts organizations in the state. "It was so exciting to take one of the most beloved works by Shakespeare's and have fun with it," she said, "I was told that it had to be funny and that it had to have a gunght or two. I obliged."

Lynda Linford, who directed the production, has been directing shows at the Old Lyric Repertory Company and on stages at Utah State University for over three decades. Some of her favorite productions over the years have been farces. "We say this show is a melodrama. but it's also a farce, and we're really having fun making the comedy happen."

"Wild West Shakespeare gives us a chance to have fun with the myth of the West while paying homage to the most popular playwright of all time--even in the Wild West," explained the show's producer, David Sidwell, Program Director at the Heritage Center. "Instead of 'forsooths', we give 'dern tootin's'. We are just having so much fun."

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