While actors Sydney Somerfield and Ryan Herring rehearse a scene, director Daniel Somerfield takes down some notes — while at the same time eating a frozen pop in an attempt to cool off in the extremely hot barn.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

Somerfield watches intently as three of his actors work out a scene from “As You Like It.” The cast is rehearsing in a llama barn, but will perform outdoors in area parks.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

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When actors Daniel and Sydney Somerfield moved to Yamhill County, they were pleased to find their new home offered beautiful scenery, numerous wineries and a burgeoning tourist industry. They were happy to see Gallery Theater, as well, but they yearned for more performing arts opportunities.

They decided to help fill in the gap: With some like-minded theater enthusiasts, they started a company that will produce summer Shakespeare in outdoor settings.

“We wanted to establish a tradition that will appeal to a broad spectrum of visitors, with a family friendliness that will appeal to locals, as well,” said Daniel Somerfield, artistic director for the new Willamette Shakespeare Company.

He is directing the first production. “As You Like It,” now in rehearsal in a barn on a Newberg llama farm, will play three weekends in August in three Yamhill County locations.

Free shows will be at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. The first weekend, Aug. 7-9, will be at Stoller Vineyards, 16161 N.E. McDougall Road, Dayton; the second, Aug. 14-16, at Ed Grenfell Park on Baker Creek Road west of McMinnville; and the third, Aug. 21-23, at Ewing Young Park, Newberg.

Cast members for “As You Like It” are Cash Morgan, Trish Castaneda-Gonzales, Jim Halliday, Kym Herbst, Ryan Herring, Chris Lambert, Teresa Lawrence, Jon Lee, Andy Lee-Hillstrom, Luke Norby, Meredith Ott, Matthew Sunderland and Sydney Somerfield.

Billy Cowles is the stage manager. Afton Pilkington designed the costumes. Frank Messina wrote music for the show. Local papercutting artist Cindy Stinson Chennell is doing some of the work on the set.

In addition to the Somerfields, the board of directors include Donna Gentry, Jim Halliday, Kym Herbst and David Baer.

When it came to choosing the type of show for an outdoor summer production, the Somerfields didn’t have to think twice. Of course it would be Shakespeare.

Live Shakespeare plays appeal to everyone, Somerfield said. Some people may not enjoy reading them, but when they are well performed by actors, they are a delight, he said.

“There are certainly people who’ll say they don’t understand Shakespeare or think it’s too snooty, but my intention is for this company to dispel that,” he said. “Yes, it’s poetry, but it’s stuff that’s meant to be performed — gritty, visceral stuff. Even if you don’t get every obscure reference, you’ll get the story.”

And, of course, the summer production would be one of Shakespeare’s comedies — something on the lighter side; something familiar, Somerfield said. “As You Like It” fit the bill.

“It’s fun. It’s just a good time,” he said. “I think people will really enjoy the fact we’re having fun up there.”

The fun is genuine, Somerfield said.

“Shakespeare is such a blast to do,” he said. “It’s really written for actors, who are excited to get that language in their mouths. It’s not meant to be analyzed on the page; it’s meant to be performed.”

Somerfield has previous experience with outdoor Shakespeare. He was in Green Stage, a company that performed in Seattle parks during the summer.

“As an actor, it was a blast,” he said. “But outdoor Shakespeare also is extremely challenging — something that makes you a better actor.”

Actors in an outdoor production learn, by necessity, to be flexible. “If a dog runs on stage, you have to deal with it,” he said.
In the Seattle company’s case, some of the productions took place in the flight path for an airport. From the vantage point of the stage, actors could see jets heading toward them before that audience heard the noise.

“You had to think ahead: Should I rush, or should I stall? You had to figure that out because there would soon be 30 seconds when no one could hear you,” he recalled. “It’s remarkable how good that is for your training. It makes you more accommodating; a more flexible performer who can deal with whatever comes.”

Somerfield won’t be on stage for this production, although his wife will. “This is the first time I’ve directed her since our wedding ceremony,” he said. He’s only half joking — the two performers, who met in a play, performed Shakespeare scenes at their wedding.

“She’s a pleasure to work with,” he said. “Philosophically, we have the same ideas about how things work.”

The Somerfields appeared together this spring in “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” at Gallery Theater. The comedy includes at least a brief nod to every one of Shakespeare’s plays. Cash Morgan, who is in “As You Like It,” rounded out the three-member cast.

Both husband and wife have theater degrees. His is from Oberlin College; hers is from the University of Oregon.

Both worked in other fields in addition to acting after college. He was in the technology sector; she did massage.

After marrying, they moved from the Seattle area to Los Angeles, where she pursued film work. When they decided to return to the Northwest, they moved first to Portland, then to McMinnville.

“We missed working with Green Stage and were hoping to find something similar here,” Somerfield said. “A year ago, there were only maybe two companies doing summer Shakespeare, and they were in Eugene or Portland, so we saw a need we could fill.”

Ironically, he said, this year several other outdoor Shakespeare companies have started up.

“It’s marvelous to see more performing arts,” he said. “It makes it more challenging for us — it’s harder to get actors — but it’s a really collegial atmosphere and more opportunities for audiences.”

For more information, check the Willamette Shakespeare website, www.willametteshakespeare.org.