The River Crests Beyond the height of the Dam

At the top of that picture is a structure that Riverside Shakespeare Festival calls home. Normally the rivers edge is about 250 yards from the Festival Stage. There are baseball field, bocce ball courts and grassy fields in between. Our company members waded through about a foot of water several days ago to carry props and scenery, tools and equipment up some steps to the upper park and load them into a truck. Now the same path would cause one to wade in waist deep flood waters in order to reach what now is a little island theatre. We are opening both shows on schedule in City High School's very nice auditorium. It's not Shakespeare under the stars but the show will go on.

Riverside Theatre meets its namesake

To begin look here. More details to follow. But the lead story should read like this...

An intrepid and plucky mid-western Shakespearean Festival, located on the banks of the Iowa River in a sprawling municipal park near the heart of Iowa City, is reluctantly leaving it's traditional outdoor venue for higher ground. The swelling Iowa river, having made the entrance to the park impossible, has sent the Shakespearian troupe scrambling for another venue. The cast and crew are banding together to evacuate the necessary scenery and props in order to honor the classic commitment to it's public...the show must go on!

Stay tuned. As the water rises, so too will the tale build.