In October productions of “King Henry V” and “Fractured Shakespeare,” a comedic take on the different ways Shakespeare’s plays can be portrayed, will grace Bakersfield College’s Renegade Park.

Aside from BC student actors, the casts for the two productions include community and professional actors. “The mix of people is sought in order to help the students,” said theater professor Randall Messick. “They get to be in contact with professionals that are making a living by acting and have a lot of experience,” said Messick.

The student actors are enthusiastic about the addition of the community and professional actors to the casts of both productions, seeing them both as possible mentors and links into the acting community.

“I love it,” said Tyler Steelman, a Theater Arts major who will portray the character of Williams in “King Henry V.”

“I love learning from everybody… it just makes you want to try harder because you see these people that have done so well for themselves.”

“It doesn’t intimidate me as much as it makes me excited,” said Lindsay Book, a new addition to the cast that will appear in both productions, “…because I feel like I am able to grow from them.”

“One of my favorite things is to really connect with my character,” said Book, “because true acting delves deeper than just the surface of the line.”

While eagerly waiting for opening day to arrive, Messick and the cast of both plays are hard at work preparing for the upcoming productions. From rehearsing lines in the heat to practicing sword fighting with wooden dowels, the crew is covering all aspects in order to open with quality productions for their future audiences. It is a responsibility Messick takes very seriously. “My favorite part of play production is the challenge of making them the best we can make them,” said Messick.

“King Henry V” will be held on Oct. 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, and 20. The production of “Fractured Shakespeare” will be held on Oct. 10, 12, and 19. Both events will be held in Renegade Park.