Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum📅 Sunday, August 3, 2025
Thank you for joining Shakespeare in the Park at the absolutely beautiful Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum!
2025 marks our 3rd season at this historic and breathtaking venue. Forest Home is unlike any other—a peaceful, tree-filled arboretum that offers a truly unforgettable backdrop for outdoor theatre. 2025 also marks a very special event... It's Forest Home Cemetery's 175th anniversary! Opened in 1850, Forest Home is Milwaukee's oldest cemetery. Details will be updated as more information becomes available. To make sure you don’t miss any updates — especially last-minute changes — we highly recommend that you register or make a reservation. So, without further “Much Ado”... |
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Forest Home Cemetery Shakespeare in the Park Schedule:
1:00 PM
4:10 PM
🕐 Concessions and PLAY’s activities will pause during performances.
1:00 PM
- Audience seating area opens
- Claim your spot with a lawn chair or blanket
- Concessions open (subject to availability)
- Very light refreshments for a suggested donation
- The PLAY’s the Thing tent opens with drop-in, hands-on games like Shakespeare in the Park's original "The Bard Game"
- Unless otherwise noted, activities from1:00 to 2:00 are easy to pop in and out of any time. No need to arrive at the top of the hour.
- Much Ado About Nothing – Puppet Edition
- A 60-minute puppet performance full of wit, quick changes and over the top enjoyment. - click here for more about the shows
- Puppet performances aren't crafted specifically for kids but they'll enjoy the show too.
- A 60-minute puppet performance full of wit, quick changes and over the top enjoyment. - click here for more about the shows
- The PLAY’s the Thing moves from their tent and takes the stage with special events, demo's, workshops and more - click here for more information
- The workshop on tap for Forest Home is Say Anything: What’s the Deal with the First Folio?
- Say Anything is a workshop best enjoyed if you arrive at the beginning and stay until the end
- Say Anything is a workshop best enjoyed if you arrive at the beginning and stay until the end
- The workshop on tap for Forest Home is Say Anything: What’s the Deal with the First Folio?
4:10 PM
- Early Music Now performance
- Live Renaissance-era music, 30–35 minutes
- The Taming of the Shrew
- A 50-minute Shakespearean battle of the sexes featuring a small-but-mighty cast playing all the characters - click here for more about the shows
🕐 Concessions and PLAY’s activities will pause during performances.
🚗 Getting There - Location & Directions
Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum
2717 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53215
(GPS coordinates for the performance area: 42.99781, -87.9409)
Google maps will direct you to the site and this is the entrance that should be open. Please note that on the day of the show, the main entrance gate on Lincoln Avenue will be closed and you must enter through the side entrance on Forest Home Ave.
Suggested Arrival Time: Forest Home Cemetery is becoming one of our most popular destinations so we suggest at least 30 minutes before show time.
Use the side entrance on Forest Home Ave.
🚗 Parking
Plentiful parallel parking is available anywhere along the cemetery roads, as long as you stay clear of driveways and intersections. If you followed the yellow line from the main entrance, you'll be parking in Beer Baron corner and crossing the bridge.
🚶 Walking from Parking
After following the yellow line and driving to park near Beer Baron Corner, look for the road barrier—this marks the start of the pedestrian-only area.
Walk past the barrier and across the bridge. As soon as you crest the bridge, you’ll see the Shakespeare in the Park stage just ahead.
This path is scenic, paved, and flat, with gentle inclines suitable for most mobility levels HOWEVER, if you prefer to get closer to drop off someone with mobility issues, please skip to the ADA Drop-Off instructions below for closer access.
♿ ADA Drop-OffFor an ADA-accessible drop-off close to the stage (GPS: 42.99707, -87.94044):
🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map) Forest Home Cemetery has a beautiful network of roads and paths leading around the cemetery. We recommend at least scoping out the map so you get a visual of the main roads we're directing you through.
Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum
2717 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53215
(GPS coordinates for the performance area: 42.99781, -87.9409)
Google maps will direct you to the site and this is the entrance that should be open. Please note that on the day of the show, the main entrance gate on Lincoln Avenue will be closed and you must enter through the side entrance on Forest Home Ave.
Suggested Arrival Time: Forest Home Cemetery is becoming one of our most popular destinations so we suggest at least 30 minutes before show time.
Use the side entrance on Forest Home Ave.
- Drive past the offices and the Halls of History on your left until you see the yellow line painted on the road. Follow the yellow line, which veers to the left.
- This yellow line will guide you to an area known as 'Beer Baron Corner'. Park anywhere in that area.
- If you need to drive closer to the event to drop off guests with limited mobility, scroll down for instructions. Your entrance and directions to Beer Baron corner are the same. You'll just need to drive a bit more to access drop off.
🚗 Parking
Plentiful parallel parking is available anywhere along the cemetery roads, as long as you stay clear of driveways and intersections. If you followed the yellow line from the main entrance, you'll be parking in Beer Baron corner and crossing the bridge.
🚶 Walking from Parking
After following the yellow line and driving to park near Beer Baron Corner, look for the road barrier—this marks the start of the pedestrian-only area.
Walk past the barrier and across the bridge. As soon as you crest the bridge, you’ll see the Shakespeare in the Park stage just ahead.
This path is scenic, paved, and flat, with gentle inclines suitable for most mobility levels HOWEVER, if you prefer to get closer to drop off someone with mobility issues, please skip to the ADA Drop-Off instructions below for closer access.
♿ ADA Drop-OffFor an ADA-accessible drop-off close to the stage (GPS: 42.99707, -87.94044):
- Do not follow the standard GPS directions.
- Instead, follow the yellow line and drive to Beer Baron Corner, then turn left, and follow the big loop around the south end of the pond.
- You'll arrive directly at the Shakespeare in the Park stage area.
- After drop-off, you're welcome to park anywhere along the nearby roads—no need to loop back.
🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map) Forest Home Cemetery has a beautiful network of roads and paths leading around the cemetery. We recommend at least scoping out the map so you get a visual of the main roads we're directing you through.
🧺 What to Expect / We're here to Help – Comfort & Amenities
🎟️ Box Office / House / Information Tent:
☀️ Sun/Shade:
🚻 Restrooms:
🧺 Picnics:
Very welcome!
♿ ADA Accessibility:
🍿 Concessions:
🐾 Pets:
More Information:
For more details about What to Bring, Weather, Registration, Reservations, and more, click the golden image below to return to the main Shakespeare in the 2025 page.
🎟️ Box Office / House / Information Tent:
- Located along the road near the performance area and opens one hour before the first performance.
- If you have a reservation, check in here for help locating your designated space. 👉 [More about Reservations is on the main Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page}
☀️ Sun/Shade:
- This area is a lovely grassy spot and offers dappled shade under mature trees, with some open sun depending on the time of day.
- Bring hats or sun protection just in case, especially for the 2:00 PM performance.
🚻 Restrooms:
- Indoor restrooms are available inside the Halls of History near the main entrance. You can either drive back or walk. The walk is lovely and will take you about 10 minutes if you parked near Beer Baron Corner.
- A standard portable restroom will be available closer to the stage.
🧺 Picnics:
Very welcome!
- No picnic tables are available anywhere in the cemetery so...
- Bring a blanket or portable chair for your comfort.
- Please remember: this is a cemetery—respectful picnicking is appreciated and highly encouraged.
♿ ADA Accessibility:
- ADA drop-off is available near the stage (see directions above)
- Path from ADA drop-off to audience area is paved and relatively level
- Audience seating is on grass or pavement—chairs or blankets recommended
- Accessible indoor restrooms are located at the Halls of History
🍿 Concessions:
- Optimist Theatre will have light snacks and water available by donation
- Tent opens around 1:00 PM and closes during performances
- Alcohol is permitted on cemetery grounds but will not be for sale in the Optimist concessions tent
- Concessions will pause during performances
🐾 Pets:
- Well-behaved pets are welcome!
- Please select a spot near the edge in case your pet needs a break.
- 🐶 Service animals are always welcome.
More Information:
For more details about What to Bring, Weather, Registration, Reservations, and more, click the golden image below to return to the main Shakespeare in the 2025 page.
🏞️ Fun Facts About Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum:
- Milwaukee’s oldest rural garden cemetery and is home to over 100 species of trees and plants—many dating back more than a century.
- Celebrating it's 175th anniversary in 2025 - first burial was in 1850!
- Hosts many tours and events throughout the year - including Spirits of the Silent City every October
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Is Forest Home your 'park'?
Download a Flyer and help spread the word! Choose the version that works best for you:
Flyers are available for all the parks as well. Please visit the Shakespeare in the Park 2025 page for additional downloads. Added as they become available. |
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