This unique Matchbox Children’s Theatre summer show celebrates Shakespeare with two short plays written to appeal to young actors and audiences.

“Faery-Free-For-All” and “Pyramus & Thisbe” will be presented on Friday at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday and Sunday in the Historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin. It will be the finale of their 41st season.

Look forward to fun and fantasy as the cast portrays a wide variety of Shakespeare’s fairies, sprites, trolls and other curious creatures in “Faery-Free-For-All.”

The plot centers on a gathering of these colorful creatures as they explore whether it’s better to be good or bad. Hilarious antics will delight the audiences as friendly and fearsome fairies take on the question at hand.

MCT will also feature an original adaptation of “Pyramus & Thisbe,” based on the play within a play from “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”

The mischievous fairy Puck leads an unlikely troupe of actors on a merry romp filled with magic tricks.

The August production evolves out of the annual MCT Summer Theatre Camp and gives participants ages 8 to 18 the opportunity to put what they learn to use on stage right away. The audience will be treated to lots of talent, energy and creativity.

Co-Directors Angela Donovan and Billie Jo Wicks are enthusiastic about how well the young actors have embraced their introduction to the Bard.

“Matchbox is excited about joining theatre groups around the world celebrating the plays of William Shakespeare in honor of the 400th anniversary of his death. I was involved with another adaptation of ‘Pyramus & Thisbe’ in college and it was very popular with audiences of all ages,” Donavan said in a press release.

Family and friends are invited for a fun hour of Matchbox Children’s Theatre. Plenty of tickets will be available for sale at the door and the Paramount Theatre Box Office opens one hour before show time. Tickets are $5 for ages 14 and younger, age 2 and under are admitted free. Adult tickets are $8. The Historic Paramount Theatre is located at 125 Fourth Avenue Northeast in downtown Austin. Advance tickets are available now online at austinareaarts.org or stop in at the ArtWorks Center on Main Street in downtown Austin.

This MCT production is supported through the generosity of Austin Area Foundation, Noon Kiwanis Club, Cooperative Response Center and Mayo Clinic Health Systems – Austin and generous individual donors.