FLATWATER SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS "THE TAMING OF THE SHREW" JUNE 5-22 AT THE SWAN AT WYUKA

The Flatwater Shakespeare Company presents 'The Taming of the Shrew," Shakespear's battle royal of the sexes, in the open-air Swan Theatre at Wyuka Cemetery and Park, 3600 O Street in Lincoln, beginning Thurs., June 5, at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Fri.-Sun., June 6-8; and Thurs.-Sun., June 12-15 and 19-22. All show times are 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Call 484-7640 for reservations.

Flatwater's "The Taming of the Shrew" transports Shakespeare's classic comedy to Once Upon a Time in the West. Director Bob Hall has added a Spaghetti Western flavor to this brash farce about arranged marriages, disguises and deceptions, and "proper" roles for men and women in society.

In the town of Padua, young Bianca (Amy Jirsa) has many suitors for her hand, but her father Baptista (Stephen Gaines) will not allow her to be married before a spouse can be found for his elder daughter, the fiercely independent Katherine (Melissa Lewis). Further complications arise when two strangers come to town. Lucentio (Rob Burt) would do anything to win the heart of Bianca, while Petruchio (George Hansen) would do anything to strike it rich – even marry "Kate the curst" and then work out later how the two of them can possibly be together.

The production reunites Melissa Lewis and George Hansen, who played the ultimate power couple in Flatwater's "Macbeth" at the Haymarket Theatre in 2006. Other performers include Flatwater regulars Will Bennett, Tom Bolin, Rob Burt, Tom Crew, Stephen Gaines, Darin Hemmer, Richard Imig, Amy Jirsa, Dick Nielsen, Margy Ryan, Sean Schmeits, and Rich Sibley, with Robie Hayek making his Flatwater debut in the role of Grumio, long-suffering attendant to Petruchio. Costumes are by Janice Stauffer and Jeanne Marlette, with sound design by dramaturg Stephen Buhler.

The play that inspired films ranging from "McLintock!" to "Ten Things I Hate About You," as well as an infamous "Moonlighting" episode, "The Taming of the Shrew" is Flatwater's first offering for its 2008 summer season. It will be followed in September by "Richard III," with Brad Boesen in the title role, one of Shakespeare's best-loved villains.

Flatwater Shakespeare is in its fourth year as a professional non-profit theatre company, bringing to Lincoln audiences the richness of the works of William Shakespeare as they were meant to be experienced – played out by a dynamic ensemble of performers on stage. For more information about Flatwater, go to www.flatwatershakespeare.org.