It’s summer…well, sorta. I mean, it’s June but it’s kinda chilly and meh which is very June of Seattle. But, heat is coming our way soon which means it’s time for GreenStage’s annual SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK series where some of the Bard’s greatest work is performed in area parks throughout the city and even some visits to the ‘burbs!
For the 37th season of Shakes in the Park, they’ll be presenting full productions of “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Richard the III” plus their “Backyard Bard” series of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Taming of the Shrew” presented in condensed hour long, family friendly versions with a cast of five. AND, all the shows are FREE (though you’re encouraged to make a donation to help them continue presenting free live theater every year!) It all starts July 11th and runs through August 16th.
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GreenStage is thrilled to announce the lineup for their 37th season of FREE Shakespeare in the Park! This season will feature two full mainstage plays and two plays in their smaller-scale Backyard Bard series. The plays curated this year highlight Shakespeare’s reflections the roles that gender plays in society, the struggles of power and deception, and the complexities of love. From ruthless ambition to tangled romances, these plays pulse with deceit, desire, and the battle of the sexes—where power shifts, identities blur, and love never goes according to plan. The company this year features a mix of GreenStage veterans and audience favorites as well as actors new to GreenStage.
The season will run from July 11 – August 16, with a total of almost 60 performances in 20 parks across Seattle, Burien, Lynnwood, Fall City, and Vashon Island. All performances are free though donations are enthusiastically accepted.
On the mainstage:
“Much Ado About Nothing” directed by Daniel Wood
Love and laughter tangle in a sparkling tale of wit, trickery, and mistaken identity. The fiery Beatrice and the stubborn Benedick are hilariously duped into falling for each other, while young lovers Hero and Claudio are torn apart by a villain’s cruel deception. With bumbling constables, mischievous matchmakers, and bickering lovers they all just may need a touch of fate to make it all right in the end. Hearts are won, secrets are unraveled, and love triumphs in a joyous flourish in one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies.
“Richard III” directed by Artistic Director Erin Day
A blood-soaked tale of ambition, betrayal, and one man’s ruthless rise to the throne. Richard, a cunning and silver-tongued villain, stops at nothing—murdering brothers, seducing widows, and spinning webs of deceit—to seize the English crown. As bodies pile up and allies turn to enemies, his grip on power grows ever more precarious, leading to a climactic battlefield reckoning. Ghosts whisper vengeance, loyalties shift like shadows, and treachery lurks at every turn. In the end, Richard’s own cunning may be his undoing, proving that even the most brilliant serpents can be crushed beneath the weight of their own wicked schemes.
Backyard Bard
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Taming of the Shrew” directed by Nicole Vernon
A talented cast of only five actors will take on stripped-down, one hour long, family friendly versions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” Backyard Bard was born out of a desire to play in smaller parks, reaching new audiences in historically underserved neighborhoods.
For a full performance schedule of locations and times please visit greenstage.org.
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
