Shakespeare in the Parking Lot (SITPL) celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009, and in an effort to step up the theater company’s game, Executive Director Kristie Worthey pulled out an idea she had been holding onto for four years: a Shakespeare-a-thon. And it is exactly what it sounds like.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Worthey said. “I pulled out the idea to see what we could do with it. Thankfully it’s an odd enough idea that it worked for us, but the trick was seeing if I could I pull together enough actors to do this…to find directors willing to work in alternative spaces, as many don’t have experience directing in street. I needed people game for working outdoors in the street while incorporating plays in the area.”

SITPL put up calls and notices to see what they could come up with in terms of directors first, and Worthey received 17 responses, 98 percent of which were from the Seattle area. From there, they interviewed and cut those down to three who were all excited about the project. Next came finding the actors, and SITPL set up several days of all-day auditions for it. Though much notice was posted up in Tacoma, the vast majority of actors were from the Seattle area again, with a few from Olympia coming out, too. The criteria were a bit different than normal: independent thinkers, those who could think about characters and come up with new ideas at each rehearsal, people who were not divas and could haul props and not expect to be waited on by stage crews. In the end, 25 people were cast out of the initial 75 who auditioned.

Worthey is a member of the Speakeasy Arts Cooperative and brought the idea of hosting the Shakespeare-a-thon to the other member owners.

“They were enthusiastic and supportive, and since the gallery is located on Broadway there are many loading docks and spaces where we can practice. All four directors decided which areas of space different scenes would occur and when they would take actors outside and into the street and up the street…Lots of work was guerrilla, but we did it legal this time,” Worthey laughed.

The directors and event producers got the proper permits, including an okay from the Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department as the event will be serving attendants a light Shakespearean supper, which is based on what audience members of actual Shakespearean plays would feast on. Pies, nuts and tea will be offered to attendants (who purchase meal tickets) to help them get in the spirit of the event.

This Shakespeare-a-thon event will focus on an eight-play history cycle, which is a culmination of rarely produced epic plays that are put on in a rapid-fire, weekend-long production schedule. The play program is as follows:

On April 23 at 6:30 p.m., “Richard II” will take place, followed by “Henry IV” Parts 1-2 at 8:30 p.m., followed by “Henry V” at 11 p.m. to round out the first night.

On April 24 at 3 p.m., a community reading of “Henry VI” parts 1, 2 and 3 will take place and at 8 p.m., the last production of the Shakespeare-a-thon, “Richard III” will be read.

Local artists, dancers and musicians will also get to play a part in the Shakespeare-a-thon, lending their talents to the undertaking. Singer and musician Voxxy Vallejo will take part in “Henry V,” and belly dancers from the area will have roles in “Richard II.” Visual artists John Wise, Gregory Fricker, Cheryl Williams Dolan, Jeremy Silas and more members of the Speakeasy co-op will be displaying their works throughout the weekend as well as playing bit roles in plays.

After much research, time, effort, dedication and love, Worthey pulled out all the stops necessary and the first ever Washington state Shakespeare-a-thon was born.

“It’s the first time anything like this has been done in Washington. It’s been done in California, but that’s it. It’s a historic presentation, and a lot of work.”

Children, adults, actors and non-thespians alike can all appreciate the efforts by SITPL to bring Shakespearean plays to the masses in a refreshing, community-centered manner. Support the arts and see a classic play (or eight) this weekend at the first Tacoma Shakespeare-a-thon.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Company’s Shakespeare-a-thon will take place April 23-24. Tickets are $10 per adult suggested donation for each play, and youth (up to age 18) are free. A meal ticket, which will include all three of Friday’s shows and Elizabethan theater fare, is $32. For more information, visit www.sitpl.org.