The University of Findlay and Scott Hayes, associate professor and director of the theatre program, announce three SummerStock 2006 productions: “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill”, July 5-9; “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare”, July 12-16; and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”, July 26-30.  Tickets can be purchased from the Box Office, 419-434-5335.

“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill” by Lanie Robertson takes place in 1959 in a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday’s last performances, given four months before her death.  More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.

“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” (abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield is an irreverent, fast-paced romp through Shakespeare’s plays.  It is London’s longest-running comedy, now in its eighth year at the Criterion Theatre.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, which was originally created from a book written by Linda Woolverton.  The stage version includes the songs from the film, written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, plus new songs written especially for the Broadway version by Menken and Tim Rice.

SummerStock at The University of Findlay has been setting the standard for professional theatre in northwest Ohio since 1977. SummerStock uses a core professional company and supplements with an adjunct company of undergraduate interns and high school apprentices. UF also produces SummerStock Youth Conservatory, a unique summer learning experience for children ages 5-14.