The Vagabond Playhouse – the professional theatre venue of the Vagabond Stage Company – is celebrating its grand opening with a full weekend of Area Appreciation performances. The Vagabond Playhouse is Branson’s first professional regional style theatre, producing a season of plays, original works, and other professional theatre. The inaugural show is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare ABRIDGED by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, and will play on Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 8:00PM, and Sundays at 3:00PM and 8:00PM, beginning August 20th, 2010 and running through the end of October, 2010.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare ABRIDGED is a bold, irreverent romp through every comedy, history, and tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The show is performed by only three actors- area professionals Michael J. Diprizio, Larry Foster, and Cory Paul Pichoff - who play all of the parodied characters and offer up a farcical feast of inspired lunacy. The Los Angeles Times says “Wildly funny. Masterful!” The Montreal Gazette boasts “One of the funniest shows you are likely to see in your lifetime.” And The Today Show says “If you like Shakespeare, you’ll like this show. If you hate Shakespeare, you’ll love this show!”

The weekend of August 20th, 21st, and 22nd is Area Appreciation, and shows are offered at the discounted rate of only $10 for adult and $5 for children/teenage (ages 3-15) residents of Branson and the surrounding counties in Missouri and Arkansas: including Stone, Taney, Marion, Baxter, Barry, Greene, Christian, Lawrence, Polk, Webster, Carroll and Boone. ID required: Please be prepared to show a Drivers License, pay stub, etc. when purchasing or picking up your tickets at the box office.

The Vagabond Playhouse is located in The Majestic Building at 2849 Gretna Rd, Branson, MO 65616. The box office number is 417-297-0392. Complete information on the Vagabond Stage Company, The Vagabond Playhouse, and current productions can be found at www.vagabondstagecompany.com.