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Some of the faces of Shakespeare in the Park 2025
Welcome to all things Shakespeare in the Park 2025!
Our 2025 season has ended!  Thank you for your support!  To stay updated on all things SitP, click here to join our mailing list. 

If you'd like to help keep Shakespeare in the Park (free to see but not free to produce!), please click here to support us! 
Now that you're here, let's help you find what you need to know.

Navigating this page is as easy as selecting the topic below or simply scrolling. 
Coming Soon....
Is this your first-time journey with us?

Welcome! We're so glad you're curious about Shakespeare in the Park (SitP) in Milwaukee.

Every summer, Optimist Theatre brings free, professional productions of Shakespeare's plays to Milwaukee's parks and other public green spaces. It's our way of making great theatre accessible to everyone - no tickets, no gates, no barriers. 

Our 2025 season features 12 afternoons of performances across six weekends with shows on Saturdays and Sundays from July 12 through August 17. You'll find us in parks and public green spaces throughout the city. 

An overview of what you can expect:
  • 💺 Bring a chair (or blanket) - seating isn't provided, so make yourself comfy!
  • Pack a picnic or grab snacks - light concessions may be available - bulletins as they happen 🍎
  • ​☀️​ All shows are outdoors and free - come and go as you like
  • Great for all ages - families, date days, friend hangouts, solo adventures  👫 
  • 🎭 Fun, approachable Shakespeare - the stories are clear, the energy high and 100% Shakespeare

Just show up, settle in, and enjoy.
Get ready to dive headfirst into a totally rad Shakespearean summer where East Coast cool meets West Coast heat. This year’s productions — The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing — are reimagined with bold 1980s flair: one rooted in the grit and sass of Coney Island, the other basking in the breezy vibes of Venice Beach.

In Shrew, the drama unfolds inside two combative Coney Island homes — one where Katerina wreaks havoc on her beleaguered father and sister, and another where her new husband Petruchio tries to tame her with over-the-top antics of his own. Much Ado, by contrast, is a puppet-powered romp aboard a Yacht Rock cruise, where Beatrice and Benedick get tricked into love, misunderstandings run wild, and the pastels are as sharp as the wit.

Each show day is a full experience. Before the performances, The PLAY’s the Thing offers drop-in fun with games like the original Bard Game for all ages. After Much Ado and before Early Music Now, join us for rotating demos and hands-on workshops inspired by Shakespeare and theatre. Early Music Now then sets the mood with live Renaissance-era music — performed in delightfully beachy 1980s attire.

Both plays are performed by the same powerhouse trio each day. Shrew runs about 50 minutes, while Much Ado clocks in at 60. Expect brilliant physical comedy, lightning-fast character changes, inventive staging (and puppetry!), and maybe even a little Billy Idol.
Set in the sweltering heart of 1980s Coney Island, this fast and funny Shrew brings big attitudes, bold comedy, and boardwalk energy to Shakespeare’s classic battle of wills...
Our puppet-powered Much Ado steers the audience into a Yacht Rock cruise experience, where Beatrice and Benedick trade zingers in this breezy nautical comedy...
Welcome to Optimist’s series of lively, interactive experiences happening before and between performances. Before the shows, drop in for open-play games like the original Bard Game. After Much Ado, stick around for fun demos and hands-on workshops like...
Early Music Now musicians will be performing musical selections inspired by the plays of William Shakespeare. It is ironic that The Taming of the Shrew was one of very few plays written by the Bard that does not include a single song and yet...
A Day at Shakespeare in the Park

The same basic schedule applies every day and at all show locations. You're welcome to drop in for anything that strikes your fance at anytime or stay the whole day. Interested in knowing more about the shows and activities? Follow the More links.

1:00 PM
  • Audience seating area opens — claim your spot with a lawn chair or blanket
  • Concessions open (subject to availability)
  • The PLAY’s the Thing tent opens with drop-in games like Shakespeare in the Park's original "The Bard Game" 
2:00 PM 3:15 PM 4:10 PM
  • Early Music Now performance
    Live Renaissance-era music, 30–35 minutes
5:00 PM
Ready to Plan Your Excursion?

We have three ways to explore our summer schedule:
  • By Park Name
  • By Date
  • By Calendar (CLOSED for 2025)
Whichever route you choose, you’ll find location-specific pages for each park* — with everything you need to know to attend: directions, accessibility info, parking tips, restrooms, arrival suggestions, and more.

🏞️ By Park Name (Alphabetical Order)
Click any park name below to visit its detailed info page:
📅 By Date (Visual Event Grid Below)
Each graphic below links to the full location-specific page for that show day.

TIP - Both the location-specific pages available by link here AND the Map & Directions section up next will help you find us.

* True - not all of out performance locations are technically parks but let's make it easy and roll with that as a universal term.

🗓️ Calendar View (By Date)
Closed for 2025
PREVIEW - You can also register to attend any of these locations by clicking the button. 
PictureShakespeare in the Park 2025 Google Map Link
Finding Us with the 2025 Google Map

Click the image to the right to open our custom Google Map of all Shakespeare in the Park 2025 locations.

Most of the parks and public spaces we perform in are large, and a street address alone won’t always get you right to the performance area. That’s why we’ve created this map with multiple pins for each location to guide your entire journey, including:
  • Driving directions (big parks = don't just rely on the address to find us)
  • Parking options
  • Walking tips from the lot to the performance
  • Restroom locations
  • Drop-off zones
  • And more
Each park is listed in alphabetical order in the map’s left-hand legend, with grouped pins for that location. 

👉 If the legend isn’t visible, especially on mobile, tap the three dots in the upper-left corner of the map screen to reveal it.

📍 Each pin includes GPS coordinates to make finding us even easier.

Top tip: Copy the parking coordinates into your preferred map app for directions, and keep the Google Map open to guide you from your car to the show.

📱Another Tip: Bookmark the map on your phone for easy access the day of the performance — especially if you’re visiting a park for the first time.
​
Bonus Tip: All of the information you see on this map (and lots more) is also included on each location-specific info page accessible from the "All Dates & Locations" section above— use whichever resource is most helpful to you - or BOTH!
📝 ​Register, Reserve, or Subscribe?

Not sure which is which? You’re not alone.

We offer three ways to stay connected, plan ahead, and enjoy the show:
  • Register to get important updates (like weather or schedule changes) for the performance you plan to attend.
  • Reserve a premium lawn space when you donate $75 or more — it’s the way to guarantee a spot.
  • Subscribe to our email list to stay in the loop on all things Shakespeare in the Park.

💌 [Click here to Subscribe to the Optimist Theatre newsletter ➤]

👇 Keep scrolling to learn how Registering and Reserving work!

Register, Register, Register.

How does it work? Registering simply connects your email address to our communication system for your show location. That's it. So, all you have to do is select where you'd like to attend and register. 

Why Should You Register? If we know where you plan to attend, we can keep you posted about important updates for that specific date and location — like inclement weather or any other unexpected changes.
​
A Few Important Things to Know About Registering:
  • Registration is not the same as a reservation.
    Registration helps us communicate with you — it does not guarantee a lawn space or seating.
  • You don't need to check in when you arrive.
    We're just happy you're here! No roll call, no checklists.
  • You don't need to cancel your registration if you change your plans.
    If you registered but can’t attend, no need to let us know.
  • Registration is tied to a specific date and park.
    If you want updates for more than one show date/location, please register for each separately. (Unless our system improves before summer — we're working on it!)

Are you ready? Great! This link will zip you up to the block of buttons for each location where we'll be performing.  Select your location, click it and you'll magically transport to that webpage. The registration button is impossible to miss once you land. 

or.... This link will zip you to a page where you can see registration links for all the locations

Bonus.... If you're in the midst of registering and you decide you'd like to reserve instead, it's the same form! 
P.S. We know "registration" sounds a little more official than it really is — but it’s the best word we have for now! Thanks for rolling with it and click here to read a tiny bit more about the distinction.

P.P.S. Still a little fuzzy on the distinction between REGISTERING to attend a performance and RESERVING to attend a performance? Reservations are described in detail here...
As a thank-you for your support...

... and honestly, the only tangible perk beyond knowing you’re making all of this possible — you can reserve a premium spot on the lawn to enjoy the show!

Reservations...

​For a $75 donation per person*, we’ll block off a 3' x 3' prime piece of parkland just for you. You won’t need to arrive super early to stake your claim — your spot will be held until 15 minutes before showtime. (Ah! That makes two perks, doesn’t it?)

Seeing more than one show on the same day?
Reserve a space for the first show, and you’re welcome to leave your lawn chair in place for later performances.

(Sneaky? Nah. We let everyone do that if they’re staying for another show BUT yours will be reserved.)

A Few More Things to Know About Reservations:
  • How many spaces do you get?
    One reservation = One reserved lawn space.
    If you’re attending with friends or family, they’ll need to arrive early to set up nearby. (Sorry, you can't reserve spaces for others.)
  • Don't love the spot we selected for you?
    No worries — you’re free to move wherever you like!

How do you do it? It's soooo easy! Just register.
(Oops, sorry if your head just exploded. Stick with me for a sec.) The same form you use to register will automatically be upgraded behind the scenes to a reservation if you either donate $75 or more while registering OR if you've already donated $75 or more within the last 12 months.

Are you ready? Great!  or.... 
Still a little fuzzy on the difference between registration and reservation? We explain it HERE...
Come for the show, stay for the fun!

At 1:00, dive into hands-on games for all ages—including open play with period games and the debut of our life-sized Bard Game, where you roll the dice and race through Shakespeare’s London.

Then at 3:15, stick around for a rotating lineup of totally rad activities—from swordplay to sea shanties to Shakespeare’s First Folio—each inspired by theatre, Renaissance life, or the Bard himself.

No registration required—just show up and join in!

Our 3:15 line-up...
  • July 12 & 13 – Pretty in Pink
  • July 19 & 20 – Top Gun
  • July 26 & 27 – Weird Science
  • August 2 & 3 – Say Anything
  • August 9 & 10 – Time Bandits
  • August 16 & 17 – Coming Attractions

Click More below to learn more about each activity.
#1 Most Important Thing - Your Lawn Chair

Shakespeare in the Park is a BYOLC-or-B event — Bring Your Own Lawn Chair or Blanket!

And while you’re at it, maybe pack a snack, check the weather, and give yourself a little time to enjoy the day.

➕ Want the full scoop on number 2, 3 and 4 most important things to bring? Click More... below
☀️🌧️ Weather: Hot, Cold, Beautiful, and Everything in Between

Summer in Milwaukee can be gritty, glorious, and totally unpredictable — and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Performing outdoors brings its own challenges and rewards.
​
We’re a rain-or-shine show, but the real wrinkle is rain — and we’ve got a plan
🪑 What To Do When You Arrive

You’ve made it to the park — now what?
​
Our specific recommendations are on the location-specific pages but generally speaking, we suggest giving yourself at least 30 minutes before the first show you plan to see. That’ll give you time to park, find the performance area, choose a good spot for your lawn chair, then maybe grab a snack or play a game or two. Then, maybe.... oh, relax or something?
  • Planning to attend or participate in a particular session of The PLAY's the Thing? We suggest you arrive 5 to 10 minutes before your chosen time of 1:00 or 3:00. 

Once you’re near the performance space (look for our signage!), here’s what to expect:
  • Find your space — bring a lawn chair or blanket and settle in anywhere that’s not already reserved
  • If you’ve made a reservation, check in at the Info/Box Office tent and we’ll help you find your saved space
  • Visit The PLAY’s the Thing tent for games, activities, and other surprises (ditto on having checked the location-specific webpage for info on the PLAY's featured activity that day)
  • Concessions, if available, will open about an hour before showtime and close during the performances

And finally — relax!

Say hi to your neighbors, soak up the park atmosphere, and get ready for an afternoon of Shakespeare under the sky.

👉 [Want tips on what to bring? Click here ➤] 
​Help Spread the Word

Want to support Shakespeare in the Park beyond attending? Help us get the word out!

Each location-specific page includes a link to downloadable flyers you can print or share online—perfect for inviting friends, posting in local businesses, or sharing on social media.

If you're helping with outreach or just want to see them all in one place, you can also download every flyer here:

👉 View All Flyers (Google Drive)

Thanks for helping make free Shakespeare in the Park a success!
Optimist Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. 
​Your donation is always 100% tax-deductible
​Contact Us 
© 2010-2025  Optimist Theatre