KILGORE (KYTX) -- Thousands of people will head to Kilgore over the next few weeks. That's because the Texas Shakespeare Festival kicks off there tomorrow night. CBS19's Abby Broyles got a sneak peek at today's dress rehearsal and joins us now from the Anne Dean Turk Fine Arts Center in Kilgore.
It is the 27th annual Texas Shakespeare Festival, and opening night is tomorrow night here in Kilgore. More than 80 actors and crew members are here from all over the country for the festival that runs through the end of July.
Music filled the fine arts center as professional actors took the stage for Wednesday's rehearsals. Actor Tobin Mitnick says this week is challenging.
"When you're doing 3 runs of each play a day, and you don't get any days off in a week for the last week," Mitnick says, "what's great is the most difficult part is right next to the best part, which is opening night."
Opening night is Thursday with "The Merry Wives of Windsor," a Shakespeare comedy.
"'Merry Wives of Windsor' is one of the funniest plays Shakespeare ever wrote. It has a lot of ridiculous characters in it," Mitnick said.
But like every year, the acting company performs more than just Shakespeare. Wednesday they rehearsed "Blood Brothers," one of the longest running musicals in London. It begins Sunday.
"It sort of flexes your acting muscles because you've got to play so many different styles," actor Jacob Dresch said.
Six plays will be performed this year instead of five. Last year, the festival attracted more than 8,000 people to Kilgore.
"I think my favorite thing about the festival is the people, the fact that it's so well run," Mitnick said.
Raymond Caldwell founded the Texas Shakespeare Festival in Kilgore 27 years ago.
"It's been very rewarding," Caldwell says, "if my life's work could be summed up with one accomplishment, this is what I would want it to be."
Tickets are still available for opening night. It starts at 7:30 Thursday night with the "Merry Wives of Windsor." There are plenty of chances to see a play this summer. The festival runs through July 29th.
Festival leaders tell us all of the plays are family-friendly, but this year's children's play starts July 18th.
To purchase tickets, go to www.texasshakespeare.com or call (903) 983-8601.
