“The Experience was magical…The Festival’s lovely version of Shakespeare’s pastoral comedy fit it [The Curtain] like a glove.”
- Michael Barnes, Austin-American Statesman

Click here to view the press release in pdf form.

                                                         
AUSTIN—The award-winning Austin Shakespeare Festival (ASF) is delighted to announce that Richard Garriott has invited ASF to consider the Curtain Theater as its theatrical home and use the Curtain for all future performances other than ASF’s annual free Shakespeare productions in Zilker Park. In light of this wonderful news, ASF is in the process of adjusting current and future performing schedules to make best use of the Curtain and the opportunity the venue affords.

The Curtain Theater, a scaled-down replica of the original Globe Theatre in London, was designed and built by Richard Garriott and is nestled in the hills of Garriott’s West Austin estate. Mr. Garriott was so pleased with the recent ASF performances of As You Like It (named one of the top ten theatre events of 2006 by the Austin Chronicle), at the Curtain Theater, that after the performance he immediately approached ASF Artistic Director Guy Roberts and offered the use of the Curtain on an on-going basis.

Richard Garriott, “Over Easter weekend, when I experienced first hand the professionalism, artistry, and excitement of ASF’s As You Like It, and saw that same joy and excitement reflected in the eyes of hundreds of other audience members at the production, I felt like the Curtain was the perfect venue for ASF and the important work they offer the Central Texas community. I’m thrilled to be able to share my theater with ASF and expose future audiences and students to ASF’s first-class productions.”

Guy Roberts, Artistic Director of ASF, “Richard has given the City and the region a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the works of Shakespeare as his Elizabethan audiences would have experienced them. For us as artists, to be able to play these great texts on a stage that Shakespeare himself imagined as he wrote them is an extraordinary pleasure and honor. For ASF, it is literally a dream come true. With this one gesture, Richard has forever changed the lives of our organization and our audiences.”

To celebrate this news (and because the planned April 7th Benefit performance was rained out), ASF will present a special As You Like It performance at the Curtain Theater Saturday, May 5th, 2007. The evening will also include a silent auction. Among the many one-of-a-kind items are a signed lithograph, donated by Louise Hirschfeld (wife of the late Al Hirschfeld), featuring Olivier, Gielgud and other famous Shakespearean actors; and an original painting by noted artist Sandra Langston based on ASF’s production of As You Like It. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend in support of Austin’s only professional classical theatre company. Schedule and ticket information:

Saturday - May 5th, 2007
7pm – Doors Open & Silent Auction Begins
8pm – Performance of As You Like It
$150 Reserved Box Seating w/ complimentary food & drink
$35 General Admission

All tickets previously purchased for the April 7th performance will be honored.

Tickets may be purchased at the link above or by phone at (512) 454-BARD (2273). ASF is also currently accepting individual and corporate sponsorships of this unprecedented event. For more information please contact Guy Roberts at guy@austinshakespeare.org or 512.454.BARD (2273).