Seattle Shakes & Greenstage Offer Up FREE Shakespeare In Area Parks…Including A Groovy “Merry Wives”

Some very merry wives of Windsor in Wooden O’s free summer park production. Photo by HMMM Productions.

Yes, milords and miladies….it’s time for outdoor Shakespeare in the local park of your choice! 

And, it’s FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

(Bug repellent, umbrellas, blankets, fried chicken and boxes of rosé are all extra).

Seattle Shakepeare Company’s WOODEN O company is celebrating 25 years of presenting free Shakespeare in the park with professional actors by staging the tragic drama KING LEAR starring David Pichette and the comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR with Charles Leggett as Falstaff. Performances began last weekend (July 12th) and continue on a Thurs through Sunday schedule (with a few Wednesdays as well) through August 12th. 

Seattle Shakes’ artistic director and a founder of Wooden O, George Mount directs King Lear and actor/director Corey McDaniel takes the helm of “Merry Wives” and sets it a swinging 1960s/Laugh-In inspired setting.

For the full schedule of performances all over the metro area (they even venture out to Mercer Island, Federal Way and Des Moines!) check out their calendar HERE!

Photo: Greenstage presents THE THREE MUSKETEERS as part of their 2018 free summer theater series. Musketeers Abby Nathan, Daniel Wood, and Chris Allen, by Ken Holmes

Seattle’s OTHER outdoor summer Shakes’ company (which is 30 years old!!!) Green Stage, is also up and running with two main stage shows, Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 and Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers plus their Backyard Bard shows The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Winter’s Tale playing cut down versions in smaller venues.  And, just like Wooden O, these shows are all free and running a similar-ish schedule from July 13 through August 18 at parks ALL over the area.

More skinny:

Our 30th season of FREE Shakespeare in the Park!

Get ready for another summer full of family fun and FREE theater in the great outdoors in Seattle-area parks. GreenStage celebrates its 30th season with Shakespeare in the Park plays Henry IV, Part 1 and The Three Musketeers, and Backyard Bard shows The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Winter’s Tale. The season runs July 13–August 18, 2018.

Henry IV, Part 1

Directed by Amelia Meckler Bowers

Continuing the story line we began last year with Richard II, we look at the reign of King Henry IV. His reign is not going well, with war in Wales and Scotland and friction with the Percy family. Though victorious at Shrewsbury the war goes on for King Henry, setting the stage for part 2, which we’ll perform next summer!

It’s the second play in Shakespeare’s eight-play, double-tetralogy of history plays chronicling the reigns of Richard II, Henry’s IV, V and VI, and culminating with Richard III.  More info and schedule

The Three Musketeers

Directed by Erin Day

The swashbuckling story of The Three Musketeers will delight audiences in Seattle-area parks this summer. Filled with dueling, intrigue, clandestine love, dueling, political scheming, and dueling, The Three Musketeers has been a favorite for generations!  More info and schedule

Plus, their BACKYARD BARD brings smaller productions to smaller parks:

Four actors will bring all the laughter, all the adventure, and all the magic of The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Winter’s Tale to smaller parks in the greater Seattle area.  Backyard Bard performs shorter Shakespeare in the Park for smaller spaces; two one-hour productions performed by the same four actors, touring to smaller parks in and around Seattle each summer.

Check out their schedule HERE!