To be – that was the question. And founders Angie Kells, Marisa Snook and Jason Ryan Lovett wanted to make sure a troupe of Shakespearean aficionados got that chance to be – by performing “A Bit O’ The Bard” in the historic Woodstock Square this summer. Negotiations ensued; the Woodstock Opera House’s Managing Director Daniel Campbell and Business Operations Manager Betsy Cosgray were instrumental in helping the three coordinate and, according to Kells, have been “terrific to work with, and as excited as we are to bring Shakespeare to .
” They were joined by a noted production staff composed of stage manager and director Kathie Comella, play directors Roger Zawacki, Michael Lansu and Tony Walker, fight coordinator Lexi DeWitt, assistant stage manager Chelsea Boesiger and props coordinator Kestrel Domann, and the dates soon were set for Saturdays, July 6 and Aug. 3. An original script ties together six of Shakespeare’s most celebrated comedy, tragedy and romantic scenes from “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Much Ado About Nothing” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.
” Kells said those scenes will be accompanied with a festival atmosphere of puppetry, dancing, fine acting and singing by the Woodstock High School Madrigals. But how did Kells, Snook and Lovett get together? Kells first met Snook in 2020 in Theatre 121′s production of “Murder on the Orient Express,” the play Kells just happened to b.
