Enjoying Shakespeare for a Good Cause

“In Hamlet’s advice to the players, Shakespeare says the purpose of acting is ‘to hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own feature,’ ” said Ben Donenberg, artistic director of the Shakespeare Festival/L.A., which opens today at the Citicorp Plaza/Seventh Marketplace at 7th and Figueroa streets, in downtown Los Angeles.

“So we created a program that reflects a commitment to make a tangible contribution to the Los Angeles community. Art can feed people’s souls, so why not help practically too?”

He was referring to the unusual cost of admission to the performances: whatever canned foods or other imperishables you can bring to feed the homeless. Other than that, there’s no cost; even the parking is free.

‘Comedy of Errors’

Now in its third year, the Shakespeare Festival/L.A. is presenting a production of “The Comedy of Errors,” directed by Kevin Kelley. The festival kicks off at 3:30 p.m., and will run every Saturday and Sunday at the same time until Sept. 4.

“Opening day is a good time to attend,” Donenberg said, “because on opening day we invite the entire audience to participate in a Champagne toast to Shakespeare. The toast is sponsored by Citicorp and Trader Joe’s.”

Having worked with Joseph Papp on New York’s “Shakespeare in the Park” productions in Central Park, Donenberg said he was inspired to do the same sort of thing here in Los Angeles.

To ensure production quality, Donenberg said, the festival actors all auditioned for their parts and are paid Equity wages.

“I was amazed in New York,” he said, “that though no one would normally walk in Central Park after dark because it’s dangerous, you put up a Shakespeare festival and thousands of people flock to the park.

“I thought that creating a festival here would help to bring people downtown.”

Evidently it does just that.

The first Shakespeare Festival/L.A. was presented in Pershing Square and netted about $2,000 worth of food for the needy. Last year’s festival collected $7,000 worth, which was distributed to the homeless by the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center.

Maj. William J. Mulch, director of the Harbor Light Center, said the festival fulfills a real need “because it’s money (the Salvation Army doesn’t) have to spend. We can put it directly into our feeding programs.”

Distributing the Food

Food, Mulch said, is a big issue at Harbor Light Center. “We act as a kind of clearinghouse for a number of other centers in the area,” he said, “and we distribute the food to other Salvation Army programs. The Harbor Light Center has an in-house population of 230 (residents) plus another 65 in our halfway house, Harmony Hall. And we feed between another 200 to 600 people per day from here.”

The Salvation Army waits until the show is over on Sunday and then takes the food directly back to the center in a van.

Funding Organizations

Funding for this year’s Shakespeare Festival was provided by Citicorp, Bank of America, Arco, the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, the National Endowment for the Arts, Bullock’s and the May Co. And this year, the County of Los Angeles is getting involved.

Jim Pretzke, senior deputy to County Supervisor Ed Edelman (3rd District), said the county has been assisting Donenberg in fund raising too.

“It’s sort of unique,” Pretzke said, “because there haven’t been a lot of cultural activities that have had joint county and city funding. It was through (Edelman’s) request that Mr. Donenberg met with Rodney Punt, general manager of the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department.

“Our greatest concern,” Pretzke said, “is to see the Shakespeare Festival live this summer at the county’s own John Anson Ford Theatre on Sept. 10 and 11. It has been so successful at Citicorp, and (Ford Theatre) would be the perfect place for Shakespeare.”