BEVERLY HILLS—Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch and Bob Pierce of BritWeek will conduct a press conference on Thursday, March 24 at 3 p.m. to recognize the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and to celebrate the 10th annual BritWeek in Southern California.

“So much of life’s wisdom is found in Shakespeare,” Mayor Mirisch said. “We are forever enriched because he saw the world as ‘this great stage of fools’ with all its humor, sadness and desire.”

According to a press release Canyon News received from Therese Kosterman, Public Information Manager of the city of Beverly Hills, famed Shakespearian Scholar Louis Fantasia and British actors Michael York, Neil Dickson, Judy Geeson, Jane Carr, Jimmy Akingbola, Joan Van Ark, Jack Lowe and Lexie Helgerstrom will be on hand to accept a proclamation from Mayor Mirisch, declaring Shakespeare 400 Day in Beverly Hills.

The actors are part of the cast of Shakespeare’s “Murder, Lust & Madness,” which is being performed at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on April 23, the opening night of BritWeek10.

“To paraphrase the Bard himself ‘we come to praise Shakespeare, not to bury him!’” said Fantasia, who is directing the production at the Wallis. “Even though this is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, we are actually celebrating the life and works of the greatest playwright and poet in the English language.”

The event will be held at the Beverly Hills Municipal Gallery located at 455 N. Rexford Drive on the second floor in Beverly Hills. Free parking will be available at the Civic Center Parking Structure located at 450 N. Rexford Drive.

For those looking to RSVP, the BH City Hall media contact is Therese Kosterman tkosterman@beverlyhills.org (310) 285-2456. BritWeek PR and media contact is Caroline Graham, caroline@c4global.com (310) 899-2727.