The beautiful lawns surrounding the Sontag Greek Theatre at Pomona College are perfect for picnicking.  Doors open at 6:00pm on Thursday and Friday and at 5:30 pm on Saturday & Sunday for picnicking and relaxing before the performance.  Picnic Blankets are recommended.  The seating at the Sontag consists of concave stone benches most of which do not have a back.  Comfy backed stadium seats will be available for rental.  Beach chairs are not allowed.  

On Saturdays and Sunday community vendors, artisans, and organizations set up booths and games.  Stop at the photo booth, enjoy a Bert & Rocky’s frozen lemonade, or pick up a one-of-a-kind cigar box guitar.  Activities are family friendly and support Ophelia’s Jump’s non-profit mission as well as other local non-profits and educational organizations. 

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WHO: Written by William Shakespeare. Directed by Caitlin Lopez. Presented by Ophelia’s Jump Productions’ Midsummer Shakespeare Festival. Co-Producer: Pomona College.

WHERE: Sontag Greek Theatre, Pomona College, Claremont, CA 91711. (Located behind Seaver Theatre).

WHEN: July 14- July 24, 2022. Thursdays through Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Green Show entertainment begins at 7:00 p.m.

ADMISSION: $30. College students with I.D. and children under 12, $20.

INFO/TICKETING: https://opheliasjump.org or 909-734-6565

Ophelia’s Jump Productions’ Midsummer Shakespeare Festival returns this July, presenting The Winter’s Tale at The Sontag Greek Theatre, the historic outdoor venue located on the grounds of Pomona College in Claremont.

Prior to the performance, the venue will be open early to accommodate picnickers. Concessions including craft beer, wine and snacks will be available. There will also be a nightly Green Show, a pre-show entertainment at this iconic venue. (The Green Show originated in Elizabethan times.)

The Winter’s Tale is unique in the annals of romantic comedy. It starts off like a tragedy, spins into comedy, and concludes with a fairy-tale happy ending. The play also contains the most famous stage direction in the history of theatrical literature. (Without giving away too much, it involves a bear.)

King Leontes of Sicilia and King Polixenes of Bohemia have been life-long buddies, to the benefit of both their realms. One day, Leontes decides that his Queen, Hermione, is much too friendly with Polixenes and groundlessly suspects her of infidelity. Leontes explodes into a jealous rage which will have dire consequences for his loved ones. Hermione and Leontes’ infant daughter, Perdita, is banished to Bohemia and left to die, but is saved by a passing Shepherd and his son. She grows up into a great beauty, attracting the romantic attention of Florizel, Princess of Bohemia. Meanwhile, their families’ royal houses, beset by grief and regret are still at odds. Is there any hope for the love of Perdita and Florizel? It will take an act of miraculous magic to make things right, if the lovers are ever to achieve their happily-ever-after.

Caitlin Lopez directs. She is the Founding Associate Artistic Director of Ophelia’s Jump Productions. An actor and improvisor, she was a company member at Spectacles Improv Engine where she co-created teams and forms steeped in narrative genre work such as The Mechanicals, The Blankety Blank, and The Illegitimate Stage. Directing credits with OJP include 33 Variations, Twelfth Night, The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Much Ado About Nothing, and As You Like It. She is a graduate of California State San Bernardino with a Bachelors in Acting and will be attending Ohio University in the Fall, pursuing an MFA in Directing. 

Her cast for The Winter’s Tale includes Austin Mooney, Conrad Cecil, Courtney Brechemin, Elana Aronson, Janette Valenzo, Justin Wickman, Liana-Rose Veratudela, Michael Johnson, Ryan Herrera, Scott Robinson, Sophia Dunn-Walker, Tania Esmeralda Vazquez and William Mueller.

Stage manager: Miranda Tejeda. Lighting designer: Sheila Malone.

Founding Artistic Director: Beatrice Casagrán. 

It may be called The Winter’s Tale, but a romance with a fairy-tale ending is perfect for a summer evening.

About Ophelia’s Jump

Ophelia’s Jump is a non-profit Performing Arts Theatre producing plays, staged readings, the Midsummer Shakespeare Festival in Claremont, and hosting youth and adult improv and acting classes. Ophelia’s Jump Productions was founded by artists and educators who believe that the purpose of theatre is to create unending conversations, spark imagination, incite conscience, and elicit a visceral response. Ophelia’s Jump aims to invigorate the creativity and intellect of the community by working with local emerging artists. Ophelia’s Jump is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

About Pomona College

Located in Claremont, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona is known for its quality academic programs, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, a range of student research and leadership opportunities, and a strong commitment to the arts. Additional information available at www.pomona.edu 

The post Midsummer Shakespeare Festival Under the Stars at Pomona College Opens July 14 — Ophelia’s Jump Productions Presents “The Winter’s Tale” appeared first on Discover Claremont.

The fifth annual Midsummer Shakespeare Festival presented by Ophelia’s Jump Productions runs July 12-22, 2018, Thursday to Sunday evenings at the Sontag Greek Theatre at Pomona College. This year’s shows, performed in repertory, are Romeo and Juliet, performed in English and American Sign Language (July 13-15-19-21), and As You Like It (July 12-14-20-22).

The Discover Claremont “Room and Bard” package includes a comfortable guest room; two tickets to one performance; a selection of gourmet treats and a split of wine, packed in an insulated tote; and padded seats to borrow for the evening. The value of the two tickets, two chair rentals, picnic with split of wine, and take-home tote is $136. 

Reservations must be made by phoning the participating properties directly and requesting the “Room and Bard” package. The package is subject to availability at the following Claremont hotels:

• DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont (909-626-2411), package rate begins at $190
• Hotel Casa 425 (909-624-2272), package rate begins at $199
• Claremont Lodge (909-626-5654)
• Knights Inn Claremont (909-626-2431)
• Motel 6 Claremont (909-621-4831), package rate begins at $100

Guests at DoubleTree will enjoy a picnic specially prepared by the hotel’s chef. Packing House Wines will provide wine and picnic options for guests of Hotel Casa 425, Claremont Lodge, Knights Inn and Motel 6.

For tickets and additional information about the Midsummer Shakespeare Festival, visit https://www.opheliasjump.org/

Claremont, located just 30 miles east of Los Angeles, is one of America’s top college towns. Visitor attractions include Grammy-winner Ben Harper’s Folk Music Center and Museum; the 86-acre Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden; restaurants and boutiques in the walkable Claremont Village; museums and public art at the Claremont Colleges; Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theater; Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology; and the refurbished Claremont Packing House food and entertainment center. Find specials and visitor information here on DiscoverClaremont.com.

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