However, following a few minutes of light, refreshing raindrops and rumbling thunder, Mother Nature decided to let William Shakespeare rule the night and those of us assembled in the Tlaquepaque courtyard relaxed.

The rain tapered off as the characters took the stage for Act I of Shakespeare Sedona’s The "Taming of the Shrew."

This year, Shakespeare Sedona is celebrating its eleventh anniversary with three outstanding plays: "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Richard II," and Sunday’s opening of "The Taming of the Shrew."

Founding Artistic Director Jared Sakren must be very proud of this year’s line-up and the extremely talented cast he has assembled.

As The Bard is wont to do, several stories are told simultaneously with interconnected, layered plots and sub-plots. In "The Shrew," Baptista Minola, portrayed by Sandy Elias, refuses to allow his youngest daughter to be courted until her older sister, Kate, is safely wed. The problem here, though, is that Kate (superbly played by Sarah Wolter) is sharp-tongued, shrewish, and ill-tempered, and her reputation is known far and wide. Although she has a considerable dowry, no suitors come to call on Kate – until Petruchio (played to utter perfection by AriZoni Best-Actor Richard Baird – a joy to watch).

Kate’s younger sister Bianca (Nathalie Cadieux) is sweet, lovely, and much admired by many would-be suitors who are anxious to claim her heart. So anxious, in fact, that they switch identities, pretend to be something they are not, and vie for her affections in any way they can. The results are confusing, hilarious, and downright comical.

Meanwhile, Petruchio has found a unique way to ‘tame’ his shrewish wife and friends and family cannot believe the change in her – or in him.

Against all odds, these two misfits find and claim each other, creating a world in which they can peacefully and happily co-exist.

After watching Merry Wives on Friday, Richard II on Saturday, and "The Taming of the Shrew" on Sunday night, I am astounded at the breadth and depth of acting ability of each and every member of the Shakespeare Sedona troupe.

Richard Baird’s Bolingbroke (Merry Wives) and Petruchio (Shrew) are worlds apart in character, yet Baird plays them both with equal aplomb. Jason Barth portrays solemn King Richard II and Petruchio’s bumbling servant in The Shrew with ease; James Coates, Sandy Elias, Sarah Wolter and the entire rest of the cast are also superbly talented thespians.

The production team, including Set Designer Patrick Walsh; Fight Choreographer David Barker; Resident Lighting Designer Paul Black; and Resident Composer Richard Jennings as well as several costume designers, also gave outstanding (backstage) performances.

Sedona is ever a magical place – and never more so than when William Shakespeare’s words echo amongst the red rocks.

"The Taming of the Shrew" plays in rotation with Shakespeare Sedona’s other two plays, "Richard II" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor." All three shows run on three consecutive weekends with The Shrew playing on Saturday, July 5 and Thursday, July 10.

All shows begin at 8p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.shakespearesedona.com; by calling 1-800-768-9286; or at the Tlaquepaque Information Booth. Dinner and theatre packages are also available.

Single tickets are $25 with discounts available for Season Tickets and groups.

This year Shakespeare Sedona is sponsored by Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, Briar Patch Inn, La Quinta Inn Sedona, Wells Fargo Bank, M&I Bank, Best Western Inn of Sedona, Sedona Rouge, Kokopelli Inn and Suites, Sedona Real, and Enchantment Resort.

With only two performances of "The Taming of the Shrew" and the other two plays remaining this season, order your tickets as soon as possible. Don’t miss these exceptional, Shakespeare-under-the-stars productions.