In 2024 Optimist debuted a new format: multiple shows and locations each weekend. This allowed us to diversify our offerings, providing more shows to more communities (and more opportunities to local artists). We are pleased to say our audiences loved it. Here's some of what they said:
General Praise:
We love these shows! Thank you for organizing them, they're wonderful communal time.
(Lake Park guest)
A gift to the Milwaukee Community! (Lincoln Park guest )
It’s such a good opportunity to see a great production and make use of our parks and meet neighbors! (Sherman Park guest)
General Praise:
We love these shows! Thank you for organizing them, they're wonderful communal time.
(Lake Park guest)
A gift to the Milwaukee Community! (Lincoln Park guest )
It’s such a good opportunity to see a great production and make use of our parks and meet neighbors! (Sherman Park guest)
Praise for Hamlet (One Woman as Everyone):
"If you like theater, make time to see Hamlet, a one woman play starring the fabulous Libby Amato…. She is awesome portraying and playing all the roles of Hamlet." (John D. on Facebook)
"Great work by Libby Amato and Optimist Theatre with the production of a one person Hamlet. I caught it in beautiful Grant Park." (actor Jonathan W. on Facebook)
"The show was AMAZING. If you have a chance to go, do it. You'll love it."
(Megan L. on Facebook after Hamlet)
"If you like theater, make time to see Hamlet, a one woman play starring the fabulous Libby Amato…. She is awesome portraying and playing all the roles of Hamlet." (John D. on Facebook)
"Great work by Libby Amato and Optimist Theatre with the production of a one person Hamlet. I caught it in beautiful Grant Park." (actor Jonathan W. on Facebook)
"The show was AMAZING. If you have a chance to go, do it. You'll love it."
(Megan L. on Facebook after Hamlet)
Praise for Another Midsummer Night's Dream and The Comedy of Romeo & Juliet, Kinda, Sorta
"The shows were all well done, my kids enjoyed the Romeo & Juliet... and Another Midsummer... even having had limited exposure to Shakespeare so far." (Humboldt Park guest)
"I love that this is within walking distance of my house. I enjoyed last year's and am glad to see this type of art accessible to all." (Sherman Park guest after Another Midsummer Night’s Dream)
"Peaseblossom is sunshine!" (Washington Park guest)
"The shows were all well done, my kids enjoyed the Romeo & Juliet... and Another Midsummer... even having had limited exposure to Shakespeare so far." (Humboldt Park guest)
"I love that this is within walking distance of my house. I enjoyed last year's and am glad to see this type of art accessible to all." (Sherman Park guest after Another Midsummer Night’s Dream)
"Peaseblossom is sunshine!" (Washington Park guest)
Praise for Macbeth (with Puppets)
I think our city is so fortunate to have these events + Optimist Theatre group. I loved Macbeth and especially the puppets!! The puppets made it so much fun! (Lincoln Park guest)
We loved Macbeth with puppets and truly appreciate the variety of shows for 2024.
(Humboldt Park guest)
I think our city is so fortunate to have these events + Optimist Theatre group. I loved Macbeth and especially the puppets!! The puppets made it so much fun! (Lincoln Park guest)
We loved Macbeth with puppets and truly appreciate the variety of shows for 2024.
(Humboldt Park guest)
Kudos for 2023's Cymbeline
It's wonderful that you bring the play to so many different locations in the city! Thank you! Especially enjoyed the chance to chat and take a selfie with Mr. Shakespeare. (Peggy H. at Sherman Park)
Shakespeare in the Park is the most incredible part of Milwaukee. (Estephanie M. at Alverno College)
Bravo! The performance told the story so clearly that I forgot I was listening to the words of Shakespeare! Every actor was essential and gave from their hearts and minds. An incredible cast that blended so well. Lake Park embraces Shakespeare!
(Paul T. at Lake Park)
Shakespeare in the Park is the most incredible part of Milwaukee. (Estephanie M. at Alverno College)
Bravo! The performance told the story so clearly that I forgot I was listening to the words of Shakespeare! Every actor was essential and gave from their hearts and minds. An incredible cast that blended so well. Lake Park embraces Shakespeare!
(Paul T. at Lake Park)
Thanks for everything; it was a beautiful day and the performance was great. (Sherman Park guest)
Excellent performances, sound extremely well done, great job with backdrops. (Alleace F. at Sherman Park)
Thanks for doing this wonderful cultural opportunity. Thanks for perfect weather. The flute prelude is awesome. (Cheri B. at Lake Park)
Great community gathering!!! Alverno College guest. Thank you for doing this! It's a summer highlight! (Lake Park guest)
Excellent performances, sound extremely well done, great job with backdrops. (Alleace F. at Sherman Park)
Thanks for doing this wonderful cultural opportunity. Thanks for perfect weather. The flute prelude is awesome. (Cheri B. at Lake Park)
Great community gathering!!! Alverno College guest. Thank you for doing this! It's a summer highlight! (Lake Park guest)
Great cast – fun to watch. Great to be able to see this outdoors. (Andrea C. at Marcus Center)
Thanks to the actors and all involved in the production for a wonderful performance! It was our first visit to Forest Home - so beautiful! (Catherine N. on Facebook)
Wonderful show! Good condensing of the plot.
(Donna T. at Lake Park)
Thanks for providing the Bard for free!!!
Melissa T. at Sherman Park)
Thanks to the actors and all involved in the production for a wonderful performance! It was our first visit to Forest Home - so beautiful! (Catherine N. on Facebook)
Wonderful show! Good condensing of the plot.
(Donna T. at Lake Park)
Thanks for providing the Bard for free!!!
Melissa T. at Sherman Park)
Kudos for 2022's Twelth Night or What SHE will
This summer Optimist Theatre presents a fun, breezy little outdoor Shakespeare show that is as romantic as it is comic....
(Brielle) Richmonds’ passion for the poetically beating heart of love in the role of Cesario allows (Kaitlyn) Feely firm footing for a subtle and intricate portrayal of someone falling quite hard into romantic attraction. Honestly it’s one of the most compelling portrayals of this sort of thing that I’ve seen in a long time....
Libby Amato, Ken T. Williams and Siddhartha Rajan are remarkably cohesive as the trio of tricksters looking to make a buffoon of Olivia’s servant Malvolio. Rarely are Maria, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Agucheek as dynamic as they are in Optimist’s production.
(Russ Bickerstaff for The Small Stage)
(Brielle) Richmonds’ passion for the poetically beating heart of love in the role of Cesario allows (Kaitlyn) Feely firm footing for a subtle and intricate portrayal of someone falling quite hard into romantic attraction. Honestly it’s one of the most compelling portrayals of this sort of thing that I’ve seen in a long time....
Libby Amato, Ken T. Williams and Siddhartha Rajan are remarkably cohesive as the trio of tricksters looking to make a buffoon of Olivia’s servant Malvolio. Rarely are Maria, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Agucheek as dynamic as they are in Optimist’s production.
(Russ Bickerstaff for The Small Stage)
That was a fantastic show! Wonderful cast and setting! And the weather really cooperated! ... I brought my friend Steve to his first Shakespeare play and he’s super enthused to see more!
(Jill, after performance at Alverno College)
We really enjoyed seeing Twelfth Night at Mitchell Park today. The cast was outstanding in their performance. Having mics and speakers certainly was a plus. The set was perfect for the setting on the grassy lawn. Kudos to all involved! (Kris, via Facebook)
Great show. I highly recommend it. (Kevin, via Facebook)
I was very impressed with the actors but also by everyone involved with the event – very welcoming and friendly people created a comfortable and memorable evening.
(Lori via email after performance at Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum)
Awesome keep up the amazing work!
(Catherine, via Facebook)
What a beautiful confluence of play and weather. Thank you all for a wonderful evening in Lincoln Park. I look forward to more lessons to learn and sonnets to sing.– Sally, Friends of Lincoln Park, via email
(Jill, after performance at Alverno College)
We really enjoyed seeing Twelfth Night at Mitchell Park today. The cast was outstanding in their performance. Having mics and speakers certainly was a plus. The set was perfect for the setting on the grassy lawn. Kudos to all involved! (Kris, via Facebook)
Great show. I highly recommend it. (Kevin, via Facebook)
I was very impressed with the actors but also by everyone involved with the event – very welcoming and friendly people created a comfortable and memorable evening.
(Lori via email after performance at Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum)
Awesome keep up the amazing work!
(Catherine, via Facebook)
What a beautiful confluence of play and weather. Thank you all for a wonderful evening in Lincoln Park. I look forward to more lessons to learn and sonnets to sing.– Sally, Friends of Lincoln Park, via email
Kudos for 2021's A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Lovers' Tale
This Midsummer makes smiles and laughter easy. It's at once classic, escapist, and comforting – just what we need from the theater on what we hope is the heels of a pandemic. It's exciting to think that this mobile production will bring Shakespeare to so many corners of Milwaukee.
(Kelsey Lawler, BroadwayWorld.com)
Optimist Theatre consistently lives up to its high standards of acting.… Susie Duecker’s Helena commanded the stage, er, lawn, in a remarkable show of emotions, ranging from a forlorn woman in love to a feisty yet funny object of magical desire. Ditto for Libby Amato (Puck) and Rebekah Farr (Hermia). But the men turn in fine performances as well: Seth Hale (Oberon and Theseus), King Hang (Demetrius) and Fabian Guerrero (Lysander).
As Puck tells Oberon … “What fools these mortals be!” They may be fools in love. But they make for so much fun to watch in A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Lovers’ Tale. (Harry Cherkinian, Shepherd Express)
Wonderful Midsummer Nights Dream this evening at Alverno College. You guys are great. I hope everyone in the area can see this. (Mark, via Facebook)
We’re coming back for more… more venues, more laughs, more fun, more summer, more dreams!
(Chris, after Alverno performance)
Want to introduce my grandkids to Shakespeare on visits to Milwaukee. Most theater is too expensive for me to take them. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity. (Anonymous, from viewer survey)
There were a number of young kids in the audience. One boy never moved, he was sitting up tall and just watching live performers.…You turned (the park) into an enchanted fairy forest. It will never be the same. (Sally, Friends of Lincoln Park, via email)
We’re coming back for more… more venues, more laughs, more fun, more summer, more dreams!
(Chris, after Alverno performance)
Want to introduce my grandkids to Shakespeare on visits to Milwaukee. Most theater is too expensive for me to take them. This sounds like a wonderful opportunity. (Anonymous, from viewer survey)
There were a number of young kids in the audience. One boy never moved, he was sitting up tall and just watching live performers.…You turned (the park) into an enchanted fairy forest. It will never be the same. (Sally, Friends of Lincoln Park, via email)
