Apex Theatre Studio’s The Bard Bus presents William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” is a fun, family-friendly, 80-minute fast-paced version of Shakespeare’s pastoral romp reimagined in the swamps of Palm Valley, Florida. A host of delightful stock characters are recreated as recognizable citizens of the Northeast Florida landscape. It’s a community of surfers, townies, tourists and a punk rock poet.

“We have been working for the past two years to develop a group of young artists who were excited to perform Shakespeare in all sorts of settings.  Our inaugural year will see this rowdy crew performing indoors and outdoors for all sizes and ages of audiences,” remarked Ian Mairs, managing director for Apex Theatre Studio.  Raines Carr, the play’s director has a special place in his heart for the Bard. “A visiting actor came to my high school and performed a monologue from Shakespeare’s plays and I was hooked,” added Carr who teachers acting and camera acting techniques at the studio.

Amelia Jorn (Rosalind), a BFA Acting major at Florida State University and Patrick Clarke (Orlando), a recent graduate of West Virginia University head up the cast which is comprised of students from six different schools as well as members of the Visiting Young Artists program which hosts students from all over the country for the summer season.

The Apex Theatre Studio (501c3) is the premiere training facility for young artists in the North Florida area working at an intermediate to advanced level of training in the theater arts. This production received a grant from the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs.