Shakespeare in the Square coming Sunday

   On Sunday between 2 and 4 p.m., Princeton Rep will present Shakespeare in the Square 2007, a celebration in honor of Shakespeare’s 443rd birthday (a day early), featuring performances of new and especially commissioned works by local celebrities. Many Princeton Rep Shakespeare Festival actors — including Donald Kimmel, Erik Sher and Nell Gwynn — will be featured this year, as well. The event will take place on the Green at Palmer Square in downtown Princeton
   Be there or be square.
   As in years past, this annual event (aka SHAKESPEAR-E-THON, BYOB — Bring Your Own Bard Birthday Blast) is an opportunity for everyone, including actors, poets and just plain Shakespeare lovers, to contribute to the afternoon’s readings of favorite selections from the Bard or by contemporary poets on Shakespearean themes.
   Palmer Square’s David Newton and Princeton Rep’s Susan Garrett will emcee this entertaining potpourri. This year there will be a "Best Of … " competition. The winners will receive prizes and a BardCARD membership to Princeton Rep’s upcoming season.
   On the bill are performance poet Jack Wiler; Post Midnight, "a rock star slammer" from the Trenton Slam Artists Performing Poets Extraordinaire; Lois Harrod, Elizabeth "Mimi" and Harvey Steinberg of the U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative; composer Moshe Budmor, presenting three new Shakespearean settings; composer-pianist Vince di Mura, in an excerpt from "For Lost Words," with poetry by Yusef Komunyakaa, and poets Carlos Hernández Peña, Elizabeth Socolow and Judith McNally. Princeton University students will perform original songs by Ronne Penoi which were composed for a production of "The Tempest."
   Winberries’ expanded Menu on the Green will include hot dogs, hamburgers, vegetarian chili, wine and beer. There will be birthday cake from Chez Alice, free for all, as the afternoon’s finale.
   To learn more about Princeton Rep Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare in the Square, visit www.princetonrep.org or call (609) 921-3682.