PORTLAND, ME: Members of Acorn Productionsı Shakespeare Ensemble continues the popular program of performances the first Monday of every month

Acorn Productionsı Shakespeare Ensemble, a group dedicated to encouraging audiences to re-experience Shakespeare's language and imagery, continues its "Naked Shakespeare" series, with the resumption of monthly performances entitled "Sonnets and Soliloquies." These performances will feature eight to ten company members performing two selections from Shakespeare's text at the Wine Bar at 38 Wharf St. in Portland's Old Port. Each selection is presented by the actor in a contemporary scenario that highlights the universal nature of Shakespeareıs language. Actors will be mingled in and around the audience, delivering sonnets and soliloquies conversationally to one another and the audience in unexpected ways that will allow listeners to find new meaning in the text. All performances begin at 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

The Naked Shakespeare series showcases the Bard's text through performances presented without sets, lights and costumes, allowing the audience's imagination to take center stage. Audience members will dictate the order of the pieces by reading cues written on index cards that will be distributed by Acornıs actors before the evening begins. The random order of the performance in conjunction with a change of actors for the each performance will ensure that audience members will experience an entirely different event each month.

Acornıs Shakespeare Ensemble is co-directed by Michael Howard and Michael Levine and features the following actors: Keith Anctil, Karen Ball, Seth Berner, Cathy Counts, Paul Drinan, Maggie Gish, Paul Haley, Deborah Paley, Joseph Quinn, Kerry Rasor, Heather Scamman, Randall Tuttle, Tess Van Horn, and Sue Yandell. The specific actors appearing at each date will be listed on Acorn's website approximately one week before each performance.

More information about Acorn Productions and Naked Shakespeare is available on-line at www.nakedshakespeare.org.

Sonnets and Soliloquies
Evenings of passion and poetry presented Naked Shakespeare

Wine Bar on Wharf St.
38 Wharf St., Portland
Monday January 7 at 8 p.m.
Monday, February 4 at 8 p.m.
Monday, March 3 at 8 p.m.
Monday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
Monday, May 5 at 8 p.m.
Monday, June 2 at 8 p.m.

Admission FREE, donations accepted.

Call 854-0065 or visit www.nakedshakespeare.org for more information.