Welcome to Optimist's series of lively, interactive experiences happening before and between performances at 1:00 and 3:00 pm every show day!

You might encounter activities like:

• The Neverending Story - First Folio workshops
• Trading Places – Shakespearean-inspired improv games
• Ten Things I Hate About You – A look at The Taming of the Shrew
• Weird Science – Renaissance cookery demonstration
• Pretty in Pink – Costume demos and hands-on fun
• Top Gun – Introduction to stage combat

It's easy to just drop-in for these interactive experiences. No pre-registration required.

More information about The PLAY's the Thing series of games, activities, workshops and demonstrations coming soon.

The 2025 Schedule at a glance

👉 Check each location specific page for details about what’s happening and when — activities vary by date and location and will be posted well ahead of time to make planning easy.

Wisconsin Lutheran College
​Saturday, July 12, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Washington Park
Sunday, July 13, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Humboldt Park
Saturday, July 19, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Sherman Park
Sunday, July 20, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Mitchell Park
Saturday, July 26, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Grant Park
Sunday, July 27, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

​Lake Park
Saturday, August 2, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum
Sunday, August 3, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Kern Park
Saturday, August 9, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Lincoln Park
Sunday, August 10, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

Wisconsin Avenue Park
Sunday, August 17, 2025
1:00...
3:00...

​Saturday, August 16, 2025 is set aside as a rain day to reschedule any park we had to miss due to inclement weather. If a location is rescheduled, the activities will be whatever was originally scheduled for that location, if possible.