Shakespeare on the Fly

William Shakespeare, the world's pre-eminent dramatist and playwright didn't just write his plays, he performed in them. In an effort to prevent others from stealing his work, his fellow performers were not given a hard copy of the script but were instead fed lines as the play progressed through rehearsal. The Improvised Shakespeare Company does the Bard one better, by doing away with the script entirely. The audience suggests a theme to the troupe – anything from Mr. T to cheese fondue -- and the actors make up a laugh-filled, two act play in the Shakespearean style on the spot. No two performances are the same – each show is a world premiere and closing night rolled into one. The Improvised Shakespeare Company works its magic at at 8 p.m. Friday and at 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday (September 28 and 29) at the Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus (One University Drive at Natural Bridge Road; 314-516-4949 or www.touhill.org). Admission is $30.
Fri., Sept. 28; Sat., Sept. 29, 2012