FRESNO (KMJ) — Organizers of the Fresno based Woodward Shakespeare Festival say the show will go on, despite their equipment being torn down.
The cast and crew arrived at the performance area inside Woodward Park Thursday evening to find two light rigs and a tree had been brought to the ground.
“We’ve been in this location now for I think seven years,” reveals Executive Producer Greg Taber.
“We have been relatively fortunate in terms of vandalism but this type of thing has happened before.”
The problem was quickly managed by those on site, taking out damaged equipment and using what remained to ensure the stage could still be seen when night fell.
“This is the thing that probably has the biggest impact on us, because without our lights obviously the actors can’t be seen at night when people come to see them.”
The City of Fresno says the area used by the Woodward Shakespeare Festival is leased by the non-profit, meaning it is the group’s responsibility to provide security for any equipment left on site.
But the incident did not delay the evening’s performance.
“We will have lights on the stage, and the show will go on,” adds Taber.
The free performances continue inside Woodward Park every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until August 26th (click here for a map). The show starts at 8pm.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
