From a Midsummer where the audience got to choose their own cast, to a dark and bloody midnight Macbeth, Original Practice Shakespeare believes performing the Bard’s works should be a little dangerous.

“One of the reasons we are so successful with OPS is that we are truly a company that believes the show must go on,” festival organizers said, declaring summer of 2014 its best season yet, “in the rain, in the heat, while there were people playing basketball or riding bikes all around us.”

Known for performing in a variety of outdoor parks and venues, the actors “perform the way Shakespeare’s own actors did in the open air, in natural light, with minimal sets and with great, fast-paced acting and lots of audience interaction.”

OPS is now taking applications for its Summer 2015 Apprentice Program, in which emerging actors are trained and perform with professionals.

All week on Community Voices, PRP.FM has featured live in-studio guests to talk about the unique way OPS presents Shakespeare. Hear the interviews, below.

Monday: OPS Company Manager Beth Lewis.

Tuesday: OPS board member Amanda Swinford, and Clark Swinford, who drives the van.

Wednesday: Actor John Bruner, a member of the OPS company.

Thursday: Terry Morin, OPS fanatic.

Watch, as OPS puts a Shakespearean twist on the Ice Bucket Challenge:

Rebecca Webb
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