The Swine Palace began its run of two shows for its annual Summer Fest event with a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” Tuesday night at the Reilly Theater.
This is the third year the department has hosted Summer Fest, with shows playing at the Swine Palace and the Reilly Theater. “Romeo and Juliet” runs until July 13, while the second show, “The School for Lies,” runs from July 22 to July 27.
Associate Managing Director at the Swine Palace Karli Henderson said the goal is to continue to produce shows year-round.
“Historically, the Swine Palace has on-and-off produced the work in the summer, but this is our effort to continuously produce throughout the year,” Henderson said. “While these shows are produced more minimally than other shows, we still found it important to give a theater offering during the summer”
“The School For Lies,” written by David Ives, was adapted from Molière’s “The Misanthrope,” but the department mostly produces Shakespeare plays. Other than “Romeo and Juliet,” the Summer Fest has featured two Shakespeare plays in each of the last two years.
Henderson said Baton Rouge does not have many other places showing Shakespeare, and Summer Fest plays an important role in supplying the city with classic works.
“History has shown over the last few years that people in Baton Rouge seem to be interested in classical work and want a little more of it,” Henderson said. “And this really is the only Shakespeare game in town. I don’t think anybody else is producing Shakespeare in Baton Rouge.”
Henderson said the plays are also structured toward family friendliness and said she brings her own children to see “Romeo and Juliet.”
Summer Fest achieves the department’s goal of keeping productions running throughout the year. Henderson said the productions are important not only to the community, but for the students who are getting real-world acting experience.
She said the main goal of Summer Fest is to bring older works of theatre to the Baton Rouge residents.
“The goal is to bring these classic pieces of theatre alive for our Baton Rouge community,” Henderson said. “It’s to get those pieces out there and to the people.”