The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Department of Theatre Arts and Dance will present Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Oct. 10-14 in the University Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts.

Chad Bradford, who has taught and acted professionally, is the show’s guest director. Bradford has previously been a guest artist/teaching artist for the American Shakespeare Center (in conjunction with the Hathaway Brown School, Cleveland, Ohio), the University of North Texas (in conjunction with Nebraska Theatre Caravan), Shake on the Lake Shakespeare Festival, the Sonoma Valley Shakespeare Company, the Arkansas Arts Center, and the University of Central Arkansas.

Performances are as follows:

• Wednesday, Oct. 10 – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 11 – 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 12 – 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 13 – 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 14 – 2:30 p.m.

An opening night reception will be on Oct. 10 after the show. The two-act show runs about 2 hours and 20 minutes with an intermission.

“As You Like It” is one of Shakespeare’s comedies, thought to have been written in 1599. It follows the story of Rosalind, who faces an uncertain future after the exile of her royal father by her uncle, the newly installed Duke Frederick. Buoyed by her loving cousin, Celia, and their rascally clown, Touchstone, Rosalind makes the best of her lot, and by chance, entrances the eyes of a brave young man, Orlando. After Orlando’s successful wrestling match against the Duke’s champion, both Orlando and Rosalind must secretly flee to uncertain lands to escape the eyre of the new duke as well as Orlando’s jealous brother, Oliver. They run separately to the Forest of Arden, fearing they will never see one another again, not knowing the magic and romance that awaits them in the forest.

Ticket are $10 for general admission; $5 for faculty, staff, and students; and $5 for military and seniors. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the theater’s box office from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, by calling 501-569-3456, or online at http://ualr.edu/theatre/season/

In the upper right photo, UA Little Rock students Tre’ Whitley and Mykenzie Gordon portray Orlando and Rosalind in Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It.” Photo by Benjamin Krain.