It is summer and the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is hard at work creating a performance space in Towsley Canyon Park. But this year, they won’t be alone. The Shakespeare Festival has invited other local groups to join them during the July. The newly expanded festival is now called the L.A. SummerFest at Rivendale.

“We create such a wonderful performance space each summer, we wanted to share it with other local organizations”, says David Stears, the Executive Director for SCSF. “Our vision for the festival is a full summer of theatre, music and family events. This is our first step in that direction.”

The L.A. SummerFest at Rivendale will include: the Santa Clarita Shakespeare company’s production of HENRY IV part I, an eclectic evening from the SCV Concert Band, smooth cool jazz under the stars with SpareTime, and performances of the rock musical HAIR, which just concluded a successful run in San Francisco. The Shakespeare and Concerts are free. Tickets are required for Hair.

Everyone is encouraged to come out, bring a blanket, the family and a picnic, and enjoy a wonderful evening under the stars. Wine will be available at all events. For more information and a complete schedule for the festival, please visit www.LASummerFest.org .

The Shakespeare in the Park series has been at the Rivendale site for the last three years. The growing festival is supported from donations from the community and an number of corporate sponsors, including the City of Santa Clarita, UNION Bank, ATKAudiotek, PRG, and KHTS and SCVTV. The majority of support comes from individual contributions and pass-the-hat donations at each event.

Rivendale is the front portion of Towsley Canyon Park, named for the former equestrian ranch on the property. The Rivendale site is owned by the City of Santa Clarita, currently planning a park dedicated to cultural arts, open space, and cultural preservation and history.

The Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.