All over America, summer is Shakespeare season. Here in San Francisco, opportunities include Hamlet at Cal Shakes in Orinda, a Hawaiian themed Midsummer Night’s Dream at Marin Shakespeare Company in San Rafael, Henry The Fifth presented by San Francisco Free Shakespeare and Twelfth Night at the Hyde Street Pier by We Players. It is a feast of the bard every summer.

And for desert? Why not check out Much Ado About Sebastopol, a relatively new entry (three years) on the Renaissance Faire circuit. It is being presented this weekend as a fundraiser for the Sebastapol public schools.

This event includes all the usual Renaissance fanfare: themed parades, wandering musicians, jugglers, fortune tellers, storytellers, Shakespeare (in person!) and an appearance by Queen Elizabeth.

Actor and writer Donald Hardy will impersonate the Bard.  Actress Deborah Doyle brings years of Renaissance Faire experience to her role of Elizabeth I which she has played at Faires throughout Northern California.

The Faire will feature many entertainers, including:

• Apple Tree Morris – Traditional Morris Dance
• Aries Fire Arts Collective – Saturday Night Only
• Bella Donna Venetian Entertainers – Song, humor, and dance from Venice
• Brass Farthing – Raise a glass to merry song
• Celtic Lurcher Dogs
• Circus Waldissima – Youth circus
• Danse Macabre – Memento Mori Parade
  
• En Garde Fencing – Instruction in defense
• Flavius Barius – Renaissance, and medieval, fiddle and harp tunes
  
• The Guild of St. George, Inc. – Interactive environmental theatre
• The Guild of St. Tibba – Birds of prey
  
• Mark Feyh – The Juggling Jester
• Kate Price – Hammered dulcimer
  
• Main Stage West Youth Ensemble
• Punch and Judy Puppet Show – Traditional puppet mayhem
• River Choir – A capella madrigals and motets
• Sebastopol English Country Dance
• St. Michaels Salle d’Armes – Historical European martial arts & weapons demonstrations
• The Winds of New Albion – recorder consort
  
• Wyatt Williams – “Green Eggs and Hamlet”
  For a very reasonable $12.00 admission ($20 for both days), this is a family event that will surely please. Much Ado About Sebastapol takes place this weekend, September 22 and 23, at Ives Park in Sebastapol. For further information, click here.