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Shakespeare Returns To The Stage At Stamford's Curtain Call

STAMFORD, Conn. -- Shakespeare's stirring words will once again ring forth at the 11th annual free Shakespeare performances by Curtain Call at Sterling Farm in Stamford.

Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, associate artistic director Peter Barbieri, Jr., center and director Sara Zimmerman peek out the trap door at the stage at Sterling Farm. Curtain Call will produce 'Twelfth Night' in July.

Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, associate artistic director Peter Barbieri, Jr., center and director Sara Zimmerman peek out the trap door at the stage at Sterling Farm. Curtain Call will produce 'Twelfth Night' in July.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, director Sara Zimmerman and associate artistic director Peter Barbieri Jr. at Sterling Farm. The theatre group will perform Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' in July.

Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, director Sara Zimmerman and associate artistic director Peter Barbieri Jr. at Sterling Farm. The theatre group will perform Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' in July.

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern
Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, associate artistic director Peter Barbieri Jr., center, and director Sara Zimmerman peek out the trap door at the stage at Sterling Farm. Curtain Call will produce 'Twelfth Night.'

Curtain Call theatre's executive director, Lou Ursone, left, associate artistic director Peter Barbieri Jr., center, and director Sara Zimmerman peek out the trap door at the stage at Sterling Farm. Curtain Call will produce 'Twelfth Night.'

Photo Credit: Frank MacEachern

Director Sara Zimmerman, a Stamford resident, has spent eight summers at Curtain and this is her first time working on the summer Shakespeare production, which this year will be "Twelfth Night."

"It's a new take. It's different from any other version of 'Twelfth Night' that I have seen," she said. "But It should be really exciting and familiar because we are setting it in a contemporary era."

She said the Shakespearean classic also contains elements of a reality show.

 "We are hoping that kind of the craziness that happens with the upper class in this show will reflect the reality shows that we see on TV every day," she said.

Executive Director Lou Ursone said the actors are drawn from the local area as well as New Haven County and Westchester County, N.Y. Turnover of 25 percent to 35 percent of the actors occurs from one year to the next, which he called exciting as it brings new faces into the fold at the community theater.

Associate Artistic Director Peter Barbieri Jr. said the annual free performances are Curtain Call's way of saying thank you to the community.

"It was a way of giving back to the community because we have received so much community support," he said.

Curtain Call will hold six performances of "Twelfth Night" beginning Thursday, July 10, on the lawn by the Royal Green Restaurant. Sterling Farms is located at 1349 Newfield Ave. The other performances are July 11, 12, 13, 18 and 19. They all begin at 7:30 p.m. with the park opening at 6 p.m. Parking is available across the street at Davenport Ridge School. A limited amount of reserved seating is available.

Two additional performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. July 15 and 16 at Turnure Park in downtown White Plains, N.Y.

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