Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival's 26th Season is Here

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 7, 2015) - Vancouver's Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival begins its 26th season in Vanier Park on June 4 with an exciting lineup of plays, concerts and special events. All tickets for Bard on the Beach go on sale April 8 for the 2015 season, which runs from June 4 to September 26.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS begins the Festival's summer long celebration of Shakespeare on the BMO Mainstage with hilarious confusion and Victorian steampunk style. THE COMEDY OF ERRORS is directed by Bard Artistic Associate Scott Bellis. Also on the BMO Mainstage will be the timeless tragedy, KING LEAR, presented in collaboration with Theatre Calgary. The production features Benedict Campbell as King Lear and is directed by Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum.

On the Howard Family Stage, an adaptation of LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST will bring a 1920s Chicago feel to the intimate Douglas Campbell Theatre tent, complete with live jazz music. The production is directed by Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre. Joining LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST is the world stage premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S REBEL. It has been adapted by C.C. Humphreys from his best-selling novel of the same name and is directed by Bard on the Beach Artistic Director Christopher Gaze.

Play run dates and Special Events for 2015 are:

• The Comedy of Errors: June 4 - September 26 (BMO Mainstage) - Opening Night Saturday, June 13

• King Lear: June 18 - September 20 (BMO Mainstage) - Opening Night Thursday, June 25

• Love's Labour's Lost: June 19 - September 20 (Howard Family Stage) - Opening Night Friday, June 26

• Shakespeare's Rebel: July 2 - September 19 (Howard Family Stage) - Opening Night Sunday, July 12

• Bard-B-Q & Fireworks: Saturday, July 25, Wednesday July 29 & Saturday, August 1 - includes a play, dinner, on-site entertainment & exclusive fireworks viewing. New start time: 5pm. Tickets from $95

• Chor Leoni: Manely Canadian: Mondays, June 22 & 29 @ 3pm & 8pm. Tickets $15 - $37

• Wine Wednesdays: July 15, August 12 & September 9 @ 6pm. $20 (must purchase play ticket for same evening).

• Vancouver Symphony Orchestra: Live At Bard: Mondays, July 13 & 20 @ 7:30pm

• Opera & Arias: Gilbert & Sullivan!: Mondays, August 24 & 31 @ 2pm & 7:30pm

• Discovering Shakespeare Talks: Saturdays, June 20 & 27, July 18* & August 8 @ 11:30am - a lively look at each play with Bard's Education Director, Mary Hartman. (*guest lecturer: Shakespeare's Rebel playwright C.C. Humphreys)

• Exploring Shakespeare Talks: Mondays, July 13 & 20, August 10* & 31 @ 7:30pm - delve deeper into each play with SFU's Paul Budra. (*guest lecturer: Shakespeare's Rebel playwright C.C. Humphreys)

• Family Nights at Bard: Tuesday, June 30 & Thursday, August 6 - family package pricing available

Tickets for this year's Bard on the Beach are available April 8. Ticket prices for 2015 include all applicable fees and taxes and begin at $26. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection; note many performances sell out in advance. Full pricing information, the performance schedule and full site and event details are on the Bard website at bardonthebeach.org. To book tickets, call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559 or order online through the Bard website.

Bard on the Beach gratefully acknowledges its major corporate sponsors: 2015 Season Sponsor Goldcorp and annual sponsors RE/MAX, Polygon, BlueShore Financial, Lonetree Cider, BMO, Starbucks, RBC and Emelle's Catering, plus other valued corporate supporters. Media sponsors are The Vancouver Sun and Global BC. Bard also thanks the City of Vancouver Cultural Services Department, the Vancouver Foundation, the BC Arts Council, the Province of BC and the Canada Council for the Arts for their continuing support.

About Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Bard on the Beach is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Established in 1990, Bard is an annual summer festival with a mission to perform, explore and celebrate the genius of William Shakespeare surrounded by the natural beauty of Vancouver, British Columbia. Play performances run Tuesday through Sunday with matinees on selected weekends and weekdays. All evening performances start at 7:30 pm.

2015 advance photography is now available on the Bard website. Please contact Cynnamon Schreinert for password access or interviews. Tel: 604-802-2733; email: cynnamon@hartleypr.com