by Winston Chua
A Noise Within welcomed the community, families and friends earlier this spring to celebrate the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare in front of the Pasadena theater and in their lobby.
Children and parents received the opportunity to listen to Shakespeare performed from actors and get a glimpse of William Shakespeare himself, played by Chuck Brogdon, a longtime Hoover High instructor.
Brogdon told The Tribune used to take his students to A Noise Within so they could get a better understanding of what they were reading.
“Shakespeare is part of our repertoire here,” said A Noise Within artistic director Julia Rodriguez. “We decided to celebrate Shakespeare with an all-out birthday party to mark this historic anniversary.”
The children who attended participated in stage combat, sword-fighting, a bounce house and costume try-ons. They also received the opportunity to spend time with Shakespeare experts who recited lines from the great author’s best-remembered plays.
The 450th party also gave kids an opportunity to leave an insult on the Shakespearean insult wall. They also got a chance to see Mr. Shakespeare blow out his birthday candles.
The event to celebrate Shakespeare this spring was also a chance for A Noise Within to promote children’s programming. This summer there will be classes and summer camps.
A Noise Within’s mission is to produce world-class performances of the great works of drama in rotating repertory with a resident company; to educate and inspire the public through programs that foster an understanding and appreciation of history’s great plays and playwrights; and to train the next generation of classical theatre artists.
