Shakespeare on Lake Champlain

The American Studio Theatre has been bringing professional Shakespeare to Ballard Park in Westport, NY for ten years. Many people return year after year to experience this high quality work in a gorgeous setting. Last Sunday, I sat on the lawn of Ballard Park and was reminded of the power of Shakespeare to transport you to another place and even make you forget the troublesome rainy weather happening all around you.

The American Studio Theatre was started by a group of graduates of Carnegie Mellon University and the Moscow Art Theatre School in Russia. They have been producing theater since 1998 Carrie Treadwell, who is one of the performers, and a founder of the group, has been performing in Westport since she was a child at The Depot Theatre. Although she now lives in Los Angeles, she said that it gives her great joy to bring theatre back to the place where she holds so many great memories. "I have always loved the Adirondacks," said Treadwell. "I consider them home. It brings me so much joy to be able to perform the plays that I love in the place that I love. Ballard Park is such a beautiful setting, with the lake behind us. Colin Wells invited us to perform here, and I am so grateful."

Treadwell also talked about her theatre experiences in Russia and the influence it has had on her. "I look up to the actors in Russia. They are so intense. I didn't even speak Russian and I understood everything they were doing. I loved going to the theatre in Moscow." She also discussed why doing Shakespeare in the Park for free to the public is so important to her. "[Moscow] was a theatre town when I was there, so it was something everyone did all the time. Also, as a student you could go for free or for very cheap. It was wonderful to be in a place where theatre was a way of life and everyone did it. I don't think that's true here so much. Theatre has become prohibitively expensive, and something that fewer and fewer kids grow up experiencing. It makes me sad, because Shakespeare's plays were for everyone, and the theatre was one of the few places where people from all walks of life could be in the same room at the same time."

This past Sunday, families sprawled across the lawn eager to see Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing, and looked unworried about the talk of coming rain. "We have wanted to do [this play] since we started coming to Ballard Park. It's a great ensemble piece, with great roles for men and women," said Treadwell.

Setting "Ado" in the world of baseball was a perfect match to the story and to the energy of the production directed by Daniel Billet – who also played the role of Don Pedro. The talent and great chemistry of this cast – the energetic verbal sparring between Beatrice and Benedick, the effervescent longing between Hero and Claudio– reminded us again of why we love this classic piece. The cast also featured a fantastic appearance of local artist of former Public Theatre fame, Ted Cornell. "I hope that people will walk away from this play with a love of America, Shakespeare, and baseball," said Treadwell. I think that Treadwell did just that and also accomplished the enormous task of getting a community together to experience wonderful professional Shakespearean theatre on a Sunday afternoon.

Be sure to check back here at Lakeplacid.com to find out about future events by the American Studio Theatre. Special thanks to Kathryn Cramer for the use of her wonderful photos!