Dell'Arte International's sprawling Mad River Festival spans over four weeks with original theatrical work by the Dell'Arte Company, robust family fun and larger-than-life performances, plus a week-long folklife festival with foot-tapping tunes from some pretty tight musicians. Now in its 28th year, the festival runs June 14-July 15 and offers audiences groundbreaking experimental theater, shadow plays, an adult cabaret, stories in the tent and more. Also this year, the festival sprawls even further, taking some acts out of Blue Lake and on the road with performances at Synapsis Nova in Eureka and at the Arcata Playhouse.

This year's mainstage show is Ruzzante Comes Home From The War, a Commedia dell'Arte performance about soldiers from a rural place returning from battle, directed by Producing Artistic Director Michael Fields. Ruzzante premieres June 14 at Dell'Arte's Carlo Theatre, with Dell'Arte offering 50 percent off ticket orders to military personnel, veterans and their immediate families.

The festival features the DAI Family Series, MAD LABS, DAI Presents Series, the MRF Offsite Series, 2018 Prize of Hope presentation and dinner, Red Light in Blue Lake adult cabaret, Eli and the Bear, and the Humboldt Folklife Festival strumming along from July 7-14, culminating in a free all-day folk music show.

Festival venues include Dell'Arte's Carlo Theatre (indoors), Dell'Arte's Rooney Amphitheatre (outdoors) and the Pierson Big Hammer Circus Tent. For a complete line-up/ticket information see the special MRF insert in the May 31 issue of the Journal or visit www.dellarte.com.