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The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) will offer free bus rides to the park that weekend, and 麻豆无码版 is offering a special bus trip to the park: Students, faculty, staff and guests can enjoy a day in the park, including the play and a drive through Yosemite Valley for $10 per person. The trip takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 22. RSVPs must be received by Friday, April 13. Questions? Call 209-228-RSVP or email specialevents@ucmerced.edu.

There will also be a performance at the 麻豆无码版 campus for those who can鈥檛 make it to the park.

Performances are set on the following schedule:

鈥⒙犅� 聽Wednesday, April 18, 6 p.m.: Wallace-Dutra Amphitheater on the 麻豆无码版 campus
鈥⒙犅� 聽Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at 2 p.m. in the Lower River Amphitheater and at 5:30 p.m. in the Half Dome Village Amphitheater in Yosemite National Park
鈥⒙犅� 聽Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. in the Lower River Amphitheater

Brokaw, with the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, said she and Prescott, both Shakespeare scholars, found inspiration for the production in 2016 when they stumbled across the Lower River Amphitheatre while walking through Yosemite Valley.聽

鈥淲e had the same thought at the same time,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ouldn鈥檛 it be magical to do Shakespeare here?鈥�

The Bard and Earth Day (April 22) go together both because it鈥檚 said his birthday is the day after the global day of environmental observance, and because he recognized the importance of nature and conservation. Sustainability is a cornerstone of 麻豆无码版鈥檚 philosophy and practices, as well.聽

鈥淪hakespeare grew up in rural England at a time when people were starting to exploit the planet鈥檚 natural resources. Deforestation, for example, was a big problem. At the same time, what scientists now call 鈥榯he Little Ice Age鈥� was changing the climate,鈥� Brokaw said. 鈥淪hakespeare infused his plays with imagery of and concern for the natural world in gorgeous language that still resonates with people 400 years later. It鈥檚 a beautiful coincidence that Shakespeare鈥檚 probable birthday and Earth Day are a day apart, and one worth honoring.鈥�

The trees surrounding the amphitheater contribute to the venue鈥檚 acoustics, and it鈥檚 hard to beat the spectacular backdrop of Half Dome Village鈥檚 theater. The park itself provides the scenery, but a professional costume designer, Kristine Doeil, is creating costumes out of recycled materials and trash because the impact of humans and trash on the natural world is one of the themes of the show.聽

Audiences from last year鈥檚 performances of a blend of Shakespeare and John Muir鈥檚 writings said the productions enhanced their experiences in the park and prompted them to think more deeply about the natural world. Brokaw said she and the rest of the production hope that is true again this year.

She said it wasn鈥檛 difficult for her and Prescott to set 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥� in Yosemite National Park and to talk about issues facing humans and their environments in 2018.聽

鈥淲e keep as much Shakespearean language as possible, but have no problem changing the occasional word when it鈥檚 so archaic that modern audiences don鈥檛 have a prayer of understanding it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 far more important for everyone to understand the story and feel connected to it.鈥�