Community SpotlightCommunity Spotlight -- The Barksdales
The Barksdales

Paula Barksdale and her family have attended Shakespeare by the Sea’s performances for years – since 2002.  Having discovered a listing in a local South Bay paper, she, along with her husband and children, attended one of the performances in Hermosa Beach.  They became avid attendees.

The family splits their attendance each year between Hermosa Beach's Valley Park and Manhattan Beach's Polliwog Park, but are sure to see each of the shows at least once.   "At first, my kids saw the performances mainly as a lot of swords and fancy costumes, which was fine.  Now, they like to try to follow the plot and have really fallen in love with Shakespeare and with live theatre."

Paula recalls the first time someone was killed on stage.  "I thought it might be too much for my children, really scare them. But they sailed through with flying colors. I took them up to meet the actor who'd miraculously come back to life." says Barksdale, "The actor actually bent down to talk to them and lifted his shirt up to show him he wasn't hurt at all.  It was very sweet of him to take the time to address their fears. I was very impressed."

Paula believes Shakespeare by the Sea is an important and very valuable community asset and encourages the high school students she counsels to attend as well.

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