Shakespeare Festival/LA, the theatre group which brings Shakespeare to the people with free outdoor performances, has found a new home. The company has moved into its newly purchased building at First and Bixel streets in downtown L.A., where it is presently rehearsing its production of Much Ado About Nothing which runs June 29-July 30 in Marina Del Rey, Pershing Square and Palos Verdes.

The cast for the traveling production includes Marika Becz, Chris Butler, Matt Doherty, Stephanie Erb, Cedric Harris, Cody Henderson, Gary Karp, Geoffrey Lower, David Manis, Joe Medalis, Rob Nagle, Zachary Quinto, Tina Sanchez, James Sutorius, Darby Stanchfield and Terrilynn Towns. Brendon Fox is the director.

Shakespeare Festival's new facility has 13,400 square feet and was purchased for $900,000. The location is the future site for a 300-500 seat theatre, to be designed by Fisher-Dachs, a world-renowned theatre design company. Among their credits are Red Cat Theatre in Disney Concert Hall, the renovation of the Hollywood Bowl, the Cal Arts Building, Radio City Music Hall and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.

Councilman Mike Hernandez was instrumental in helping SF/LA to obtain funding for its new home. Hernandez has been a supporter of the organization's "Will Power to Youth" (co-sponsored by the downtown based National Conference for Community and Justice. The program allows poverty level students to participate in intensive theatre and human relations training workshops. Currently, the workshops are held twice a year. With the acquisition of the building, it is hoped that the program will be expanded to after school and weekends.

For tickets and information call (213) 489-4127. There will be a sign language interpreter for the July 13 performance in L.A.'s Pershing Square; reservations are needed. E-mail to [email protected] -- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent