Britweek pulled out all the stops in a celebration honoring the 450th Anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare as the stars came out to practice their best iambic pentameter! 

The Cast of Shakespeare, Music & Love

Los Angeles, CA – Co-hosts Ioan Gruffudd and Joely Fisher good-naturedly romped through bits and pieces of AS YOU LIKE IT, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and ROMEO AND JULIET, while seamlessly threading the mix of sonnets, monologues, scenes and music that made up the evening.

Among the highlights were Harry Hamlin’s full-out out performance of the St Crispin day’s speech from HENRY V wielding a sword like a pro!

Harry Hamlin performs Henry V

Touchingly rendered sonnets performed by Jane Seymour (# 23) and Joan Van Ark (#18)

Malcolm McDowell reprised with gusto Prospero’s speech from THE TEMPEST, which he last performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic.

Prospero’s speech from THE TEMPEST

Michael York closed the evening with a heart-felt reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnet # 116 (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds…)

Michael York recites Shakespeare’s Sonnet 16

Music was provided by London-based conductor Martin Neary, whose Millennium Consort singers gave a world-class sampling of 400 years of Shakespeare influenced music. Jazz artist Sherry Williams complemented the classical sound with jazz settings of Shakespeare by Cleo Laine and Johndankworth.

Full cast included Ashley Bell, Neil Dickson, Alexandra Helgerson (understudy for Judy Geeson) Victoria Platt, Robert Wisdom, Claudia Christian, David Melville, Michele Green, Mira Furlan, Sophie Winkleman, Suzan Crowley and Nigel Daly.

Theater guests included: BritWeek Chairman Bob Peirce and Sharon Harroun Peirce, Nigel Lythgoe, Lord Frederick Windsor, Michael Nouri, Roger and Julie Corman, Amanda Eliasch, Ross King, Pat York, Holly Palance, and Mag Scott, CEO  Beverly Hills Wealth Management, the performance sponsor, with astronaut David Scott. Aston Martin sponsored the VIP after cast party.

Two legendary artists, Malcolm McDowell and Michael York celebrating Shakespeare!

Part of the proceeds of the evening are going to support the work of the Inner City Shakespeare Ensemble and The Hobart Shakespeareans, two dynamic inner city Shakespeare programs.

The evening was written and directed by producer Louis Fantasia, Director of Shakespeare at the Huntington and Dean of the Chair of Liberal Arts at the NY Film Academy.

(Press Release via C4 Global Communications and Jane Owen Public Relations)

BritWeek 2014 Robertson Shopping Stroll

It was a fantastic afternoon walking down Robertson Blvd in Beverly Hills shopping like an A-list movie-star. Well, okay…lets call it “window shopping” but still, it was another fun and fabulous event planned by BritWeek 2014. Sponsored by SOCAL Mini with celebrity ambassador Mischa Barton (The O.C.) BritWeek guests were invited to stroll in and out of participating stores along Robertson and enjoy teatime treats, entertainment and other fun features offered up for this Brit-abulous occasion!  Here are highlights of the “posh” stroll by photographer Rex Gelert.

Celebrity Ambassador Mischa Barton

I love Britweek CEO Bob Peirce and his wonderful wife, Sharon. They’re always such fun and truly the heart of BritWeek.

Mischa Barton with BritWeek CEO Bob Peirce and Board Member Sharon Harroun Peirce

Stores all along Robertson flew the flag for Britain and offered yummy treats such as this multi-layered opera cake from British Superchef Gordon Ramsay! Was it bad that I nicked two?

At Ted Baker British SuperChef Gordon Ramsay had special treats for each guest!

Gorgeous Lauren Stone, Executive Director of Britweek should be applauded for her amazing job of putting together an incredible 2014 Britweek slate!

SoCal Mini was a sponsor of the Robertson Shopping Stroll and offered guests this fun photo-op!

Fun photo op made possible by SoCal Mini!

Afternoon Tea was provided by The High Tea Cottage (a nominee in our GREAT British Afternoon Tea-Off event!)

Afternoon Tea provided by The High Tea Cottage

Another successful Britweek 2014 event!