Love is in the air as Grand Rapids Civic Theatre presents ‘Shakespeare in Love’

After having to delay its opening of its winter production, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre will present “Shakespeare in Love” starting this Friday through Feb. 13.

Based on the Academy Award-wining movie that starred Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow, the play reimagines William Shakespeare’s creative process. The young Shakespeare has writer’s block. The deadline and the creditors for his new play are closing in, and he’s in desperate need of inspiration. Enter his muse, Viola, a young woman who will stop at nothing to appear in his next play. Despite Shakespeare’s ruthless adversaries and a dysfunctional theatrical company, he and Viola’s love blossoms and inspires his great masterpiece.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. There is no performance on Feb. 11. Single tickets are $18-$40. For more information, visit grct.org.

Also, new this year, the semi-finalists for the Ten For All playwriting festival will have their plays read live on stage. Youth categories is Jan. 31 and adult categories is Feb. 1. Tickets for the readings are free. The finalists will have their plays performed at the Ten For All Festival which is set for Mach 18 – 20.