A Midsummers Night Dream set for Beardsley Zoo

By CARYN KAUFMAN   Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CFS), in its 10th anniversary season, is re-creating its first summer's production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."  The free performances of Shakespeare's plays returns for the 10th summer to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.  All performances are free and open to the public.  Since 1999, CFS has delighted fans young and old with these professional productions performed under the stars.   This year's cast includes many of the fan favorites who return to CFS each summer.  These include 13 actors from across the country who are members of the Actor's Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Joining the actors is a roster of 20 high school student interns from the Greater Bridgeport region.  Interns participate in classes and workshops learning acting and theater production skills that they put to use either on stage or behind the scenes, such as working with lighting, costumes and sound.  The show is produced by Bertram Garskof and adapted and directed by Ellen Lieberman, founders of Connecticut Free Shakespeare.   In honor of the 10th anniversary season, this year's production will feature special guest performances by local dignitaries and celebrities, including Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who will appear on Saturday, July 18.  Performances: Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 18 Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26 Wednesday, July 29 through Saturday, August 1   Parking at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is free for these performances.  Blankets, chairs and picnics are welcome and encouraged.  Performances are cancelled in the event of inclement weather.    For information: (203) 393-3213 or www.ctfreeshakespeare.org.   Sponsors whose contributions allow CFS to bring its programs to its audiences and its youth programs free of charge include: The City of Bridgeport, Mayor Bill Finch, The Workplace, Inc., Sacred Heart University, The Barnum Museum, AT&T, Queue Inc., Norma Terris - Albert D. Firestone Foundation, D'Addario Industries, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo, Merit Insurance, People's United Community Foundation, Bridgeport Innovation Center, Yale New Haven Health, Avram and Rhoda Freedberg, Trefz Corporation, Ronald Nicholes, and Wojtek W. Borowski.   About Connecticut Free Shakespeare (CFS):  Founded in 1999, Connecticut Free Shakespeareis a professional educational theater project committed to producing understandable and entertaining performances of Shakespeare's plays that are accessible to a broad range of audience members.  Now in its 10th season, CFS currently produces one major production per summer, performed free of charge at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo and on Guilford's historic green.  In addition, CFS is committed to nurturing the creativity of local teenagers and developing their classical theater skills through comprehensive internship programs.  Actors and Stage Managers are members of Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. Visit www.connecticutfreeshakespeare.org for more information.