Mitchell Park

📅 Saturday, July 26, 2025

Thank you for joining Shakespeare in the Park at Mitchell Park!

Although they're immensely impressive, Mitchell Park is more than just the domes!

2025 marks our 3rd season at this overlooked gem of a park.

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"...

Navigation options...

Scroll - this page isn't all that long
Jump to specific sections via the buttons below
Tap your Ctrl or your Command key and F for a pop-up 'find' box near the top right of this page

Mitchell Park Shakespeare in the Park Schedule

With an extra special note about our Mitchell Park shows...
Thanks to assistance from Milwaukee County Supervisor Juan Miguel Martinez and VIA CDC, performances will have live Spanish language interpretation by Ms. Isabel Hernandez.

1:00 PM

Audience seating area opens
- Claim your spot with a lawn chair or blanket
Hearing devices for Spanish language interpretation are available to check out
- Tent located near the House / Ushers / Information
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.

2:00 PM

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.

3:15 PM

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 activity on tap for Mitchell Park is Weird Science: A Day in the Life of a Renaissance Housewife

4:10 PM

Early Music Now performance
- Live Renaissance-era music, 30–35 minutes

5:00 PM

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

Park Address (for navigation purposes):
524 S Layton Blvd, Milwaukee, WI 53215
This is the main address for Mitchell Park, home of Milwaukee’s iconic horticultural domes. Use this address to navigate into the park — but note that it’s not the location of the performance space.

Suggested Arrival: Mitchell Park has been one of our busier venues in the past so we suggest arriving 30 minutes before the first show you'd like to see.

For The PLAY's the Thing activities, you're probably fine arriving 10 minutes before the 1:00 session. The 3:00 might be fuller.
- No need to arrive extra early to walk from parking to the performance space if you park in the small lot behind the domes. See navigation and parking details below.

🚗 Best Navigation and Parking — West Picnic Area Lot (Recommended)

After entering from S Layton Blvd, make an immediate left near GPS 43.02572, -87.94751
- This left hand turn looks like only employees should be using it. It's not. It's for us too. No special password or handshake required.
Follow the unnamed access road behind the domes — it will take you directly to the small dead-end parking lot closest to the performance site
The road curves around but is easy to follow — just keep going until it ends
📍 GPS for performance lot: 43.0272, -87.94402
✅ Ample parking is available in this lot
🎭 The performance space is visible from the south end of the lot — just a short, easy walk away

🅿️ Alternate Driving Option — If you enter the main domes parking lot from Pierce Street:

Drive toward the roundabout in front of the domes
Then make a left toward Layton Blvd
Before exiting the park, turn right to follow the access road to the smaller lot (described above)

🚴 Bonus navigation idea! Bike in theatre!
The Hank Aaron State Trail dead ends at Mitchell Park!

Ride your bike along this beautiful pathway and turn right to follow the access road a short distance to the performance space.

⚠️ Parking in the main Domes lot?
It's a much longer walk to the performance site but, go for it if you'd like a bit more exercise.

From the lot, if you're facing the domes, walk to your right and follow the sidewalk around to the back side.
Past the pond, but before you reach the pavilion, follow the sidewalk to your left when it splits.

🗺️ For a map, visit the Main Shakespeare in the Park Map (Google Map)

🧺 What to Expect / We're here to Help – Comfort & Amenities

🛎️ Box Office / House / Information Tent
Located near south end of the parking lot, before you reach the performance area. It opens one hour before the first performance.
If you have a reservation, check in here for help locating your designated space. 👉 [More about Reservations]

☀️ Sun/Shade
The performance area is a combination of shade with dappled sun and plenty of opportunity to select a shady place to see the shows.

Even though there's natural shade, bring hats, sunglasses, or sun protection for your comfort. Don't take chances.

🚻 Restrooms
A standard-size portable restroom will be available near the performance space.

🧺 Picnics
Very welcome!

There are a few picnic tables near at the performance site
Picnic tables are available near the West Picnic Area (close to parking)
Bring a blanket or portable chair for your comfort

♿ ADA Accessibility

The recommended West Picnic Area parking lot provides the easiest access
Flat paved surface from the lot, followed by a short walk across relatively level grass
Audience seating is on grass — chairs or blankets recommended
✅ Mobility aids should be manageable; assistance is encouraged for those using wheels

🍿 ConcessionsOptimist Theatre will offer light snacks by donation

Concessions tent opens around 1:00 PM
Tent closes during performances
🚫 No alcohol is permitted in Milwaukee County Parks

🐾 Pets
Well-behaved pets are welcome!

Please sit near the edge in case your pet needs a break
🐕‍🦺 Service animals are always welcome

ℹ️ More InformationLooking for tips about what to bring, weather, reservations, and more?
Click the golden box below to return to the main Shakespeare in the Park page.

🌟 Fun Facts – Mitchell Park

The famed Mitchell Park Domes:

These are not your average greenhouses—they’re the only three conoidal (cone-shaped) domes in the world, built between 1959 and 1967 after replacing the original 1898 conservatory. The Floral Dome was dedicated in 1965 by First Lady Lady Bird Johnson

Origins as “Mitchell’s Grove”:

The park began as a private estate of Alexander Mitchell around the Menomonee Valley, with about 30 acres purchased in 1890 by the newly formed Milwaukee Parks Commission. Over time it grew to about 61 acres

Crystal Palace conservatory predecessor:

The original conservatory, constructed in 1898 and inspired by London’s Crystal Palace, featured sunken gardens and exquisite ironwork by Cyril Colnik. Though razed in 1955, its stunning entry gates were preserved and incorporated into the Floral Dome

A “zoo for plants” under glass:

The Tropical Dome houses around 1,000 tropical plant species (including birds!), while the Desert Dome features rare succulents like Welwitschia and Madagascar specimens — truly a horticultural menagerie

Historic and threatened:

The Domes were part of the first six Milwaukee parks started in 1890 and later recognized as a National Treasure, though a 2016 National Trust report listed them among the “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” due to structural needs

Is Mitchell Park your park?

Download a Flyer and help spread the word! Choose the version that works best for you:

Print-Ready PDF – High-resolution, ideal for printing and posting
Web-Friendly PDF – Optimized for sharing online or by email

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.