Students and the community alike can relate to the issues and heartache of family in this spring’s production of King Lear. The production is put on by the California Shakespeare Company. It is scheduled to run every weekend at the Four Friends Hall in Thousand Oaks from Feb. 22 to March 17.

The show will be held under the direction of long time director for the company, Bill Fischer.

“We make Shakespeare intimate in the fact that you are right there in the action,” said Fischer.

According to Fischer, the company has put on productions for the past 20-something years and often features both student actors as well as professionals.

Kristopher Dowling, 20, English major, is no stranger to acting and is happy to be part of this production.

“I’m just excited to work with such a talented cast and become a better, stronger actor out of it,” said Dowling.

Bryan Atkins, 29, also an English major has decided to again pursue acting; this time both on and off campus.

“I got back into acting in the fall of 2012. This and Moorpark’s production of Henry IV are the only Shakespeare productions I will have done. I am looking forward to rehearsal time, and being around really talented actors, and learning as we go,” said Atkins.

Fischer is thankful for all the support Sydney Sims, English professor at Moorpark College, has given to him and the company over the years.

“Fischer has extensive experience and training in directing Shakespeare and a clear vision for his actors,” said Sims. “The shows are small and intimate, so the audience comes to care deeply about the characters on stage.”

The shows are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. General admission is $20 and student/senior admission is $18.

To purchase tickets or more information, go to CSCEducationInc.com or call Bill Fischer at 805-498-3354.