THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - The 15th anniversary season of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will feature performances of “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Merchant of Venice” at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

This is the first time that the festival will feature “The Merchant of Venice.” The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company last performed “The Taming of the Shrew” in 2000.

The 2010 season will run from July 1 through Aug. 7 in scenic Kingsmen Park. “The Taming of the Shrew” will be performed July 1-3, July 8-10 and July 15-17. “The Merchant of Venice” will be staged July 22-24, July 29-31, and Aug. 5-7. All shows begin at 8 p.m.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival is one of the area’s most popular outdoor theatrical events. Visitors are immersed in the Shakespeare experience as the festival grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for pre-show picnicking and entertainment.

Kingsmen Shakespeare Company is the professional theatre company of California Lutheran University. The nonprofit organization also coordinates apprentice programs for professional and aspiring Shakespearean actors, an educational tour program in local schools, and summer theater camps for youth.

General admission is $15 for adults and free for those under 18. For more information, visit http://kingsmenshakespeare.org or call (805) 493-3014.