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Harlem Summer Shakespeare presents FREE performances of Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST in the Amphitheatre at Riverbank State Park, 145^th Street & Riverside Drive. August 2-26 with performances Thursday-Sunday at 8 PM. For additional information call (212) 695-1596 or go to www.pulseensembletheatre.org.

The multi-ethnic, open air production of THE TEMPEST, which continues through August 26^th, is the third annual Harlem Summer Shakespeare and is and is a feature of Harlem Week. The performance in the Amphitheatre in Riverbank State Park overlooking the Hudson River are Thursday through Sunday at 8 PM with seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.. Audience members are invited to bring seat cushions.

This 2007 production of THE TEMPEST, where Izod shirts replace Elizabethan ruffs, continues the company’s tradition of updating the visual aspect of the plays while keeping Shakespeare’s language intact. “The goal is to excite and entertain a non-theatre going audience, and inspire them with the limitless possibilities of live theatre” said Alexa Kelly.

Set on a mountainous island near North Africa, THE TEMPEST includes music ranging from The Bulgarian women’s choir and Pan’s pipes, to African drummers. Ms. Kelly said: “While last summer’s production of ROMEO AND JULIET was loosely based on the TV show LAW & ORDER, THE TEMPEST has been inspired by LOST.”

The Harlem Summer Shakespeare Project invites young people from the Harlem community to work with the professional acting company, and also offers free acting workshops. The project is sponsored in part by Con Edison, The National Endowment for the Arts, Hot Topic Foundation, Councilman Robert Jackson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and the NY State Office of Parks and Recreation & Historic Preservation