Virginia Beach, VA – [April 23, 2025] – The works of Shakespeare find new life in “As You Love It,” a new comedy play blending romance, comedy, and adventure. The performance opens on The Zeiders American Dream Theater main stage from May 4-24.
Transporting audiences to an alternate 20th-century New York, AS YOU LOVE IT follows a spirited young woman who concocts a daring scheme to impress her antiquarian father and the captivating actress who’s stolen her heart.
As Lydia pens a sequel to the beloved As You Like It, her “undiscovered Shakespeare play” takes on a life of its own. Her simple forgery captivates newspapers, scholars, and a Broadway producer, giving a new voice to what she loves most. This new comedy exploring the complexities of love and ambition was designated a Finalist by the American Shakespeare Center for its biennial competition for plays “in conversation with Shakespeare.”
“My first impulse for this play was hearing a story about a teenager in late 18th century who forged a Shakespeare play to impress his father,” said Adam Kraar, playwright. “But it was only when I decided to lean into “Shakesperean” storytelling – with heightened language, romance, comedy, and a large dose of make-believe – that the play came alive for me.”
Directed by Maryanne Kiley, the ensemble cast explores the lighthearted world-building to create “As You Love It”.
“The ‘world’ we’re building is set in Gilded Age New York, but there are lots of anachronisms that make it feel more like a contemporary comedy,” said Kiley. “We’re using music from the 1980’s and the costumes will be a blend of both eras, to give the audience permission to join us in what Adam [Kraar] calls in his stage notes, ‘an alternate reality more fanciful and open-hearted than real life’.”
Kiley noted how the humor and accesibility of the script open the piece to be enjoyed by any audience-versed in Shakespeare or not.
“I’ll come to rehearsal with an idea for how to land a funny piece of the script, and then the actors, stage manager, production team all join in with ideas, and by the time we’re done, the joke is much funnier,” Kiley Said. “There are “easter eggs” for Shakespeare fans, but you don’t have to have read a single Shakespeare play to enjoy this show.”
The piece opens for three weekends in Virginia Beach Town Center, and is the perfect lighthearted activity for a fun spring evening.
Tickets and Showtimes
May 9-24 | Thurs-Sats at 7:30pm, Sat 3pm Matinees
May 22: Pride Night with a pre-show reception in the lobby with raffle prizes and a cash bar. Proceeds raised at this performance support The Z, Hampton Roads Pride, Stonewall Sports and LGBT Life Center.
May 24 at 3pm will be a captioned performance brought to you by Access VA.
Tickets for “As You Love It” are available at thez.org or at the theater box office 757-499-0317.
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