It was the great Yale scholar Harold Bloom who said that William Shakespeare invented human beings. As a species, we have not evolved a whit since then and so his plays remain vital and pertinent, as well as perfect works of art.

The fourth annual summer Shakespeare Festival is now underway in Reed Park – outdoors on tennis court #1 and indoors in Miles Memorial Playhouse, featuring three of the wizard’s plays in rep through July 29.

A one-hour and 20-minute version of “Twelfth Night” will play Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on the tennis court. “Richard III” will be performed Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. and an all-woman cast will do “Taming of the Shrew” Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. – both in Miles Memorial Playhouse.

Reed Park is located at Wilshire Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Seventh Street. Miles Playhouse is on Lincoln a half-block north of Wilshire.
Admission is free for anyone 18 years old and under. Tickets range from $20 to $25, with discounts for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased by calling (310) 270-3454, by emailing shakespeareSantaMonica@gmail.com or visiting www.shakespearesantamonica.com.