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☀️🌧️ 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. |
🌦️ Weather & Rain Plans
RULE #1: Today's Weather Forecast is NOT to be Trusted
Today’s forecast is only a suggestion — we know from experience that it can and will change.
Melissa (our AEA Stage Manager) and Susan (that’s me, the person who composed this) monitor weather radar obsessively as show day approaches. We check multiple sources, compare patterns, and talk it through constantly.
RULE #1: Today's Weather Forecast is NOT to be Trusted
Today’s forecast is only a suggestion — we know from experience that it can and will change.
Melissa (our AEA Stage Manager) and Susan (that’s me, the person who composed this) monitor weather radar obsessively as show day approaches. We check multiple sources, compare patterns, and talk it through constantly.
RULE #2: Shakespeare in the Park is a Rain or Shine Show
That means:
If we do set up, but bad weather rolls in, we ask ourselves — obsessively --
That means:
- Every show day, our crew drives the gear to the park and plans to set up, regardless of the forecast
- If it’s only lightly raining when we arrive, we’ll start setup and hope the skies cooperate
- If there’s a heavy downpour, we’ll hold off, monitor the radar, and make the final call as late as we possibly can
(That “last minute” is the point when there’s no longer time to safely perform at least one show)
If we do set up, but bad weather rolls in, we ask ourselves — obsessively --
- Is it a light rain or something that could damage equipment, costumes, or props?
- Can we pause and restart before it gets too late or too dark?
- Can we finish this show without interfering with the next one?
- Is the audience still with us? (Spoiler: they usually are!)
💡 Helpful Hints for You, Our Audience
Want to avoid surprise cancellations? Register.
You can also check forecasts on AccuWeather or your favorite radar app.
If there’s ever a day we have to cancel, we’ll try to let you know as early and clearly as possible — not when you show up and find one sad, soaked crew member waiting with bad news.
Want to avoid surprise cancellations? Register.
- It’s the easiest way for us to reach out to you with day-of updates about weather.
You can also check forecasts on AccuWeather or your favorite radar app.
If there’s ever a day we have to cancel, we’ll try to let you know as early and clearly as possible — not when you show up and find one sad, soaked crew member waiting with bad news.
🤔 Other Weather-Related Questions and Answers...
Q: Why not move indoors?
A: Shakespeare in the Park is designed to be performed outdoors, with our custom stage and park-friendly footprint. We spend months making sure each location works logistically and artistically. There’s no “indoor version.” Plus... Where?
Q: Can you reschedule if it rains?
A: Until now, we couldn’t. But new in 2025, we’ve kept Saturday, August 16 open as a rain date.
Q: Why try so hard to perform?
A: # 1 most important reason - Our audiences have planned to attend.
Q: Why not move indoors?
A: Shakespeare in the Park is designed to be performed outdoors, with our custom stage and park-friendly footprint. We spend months making sure each location works logistically and artistically. There’s no “indoor version.” Plus... Where?
Q: Can you reschedule if it rains?
A: Until now, we couldn’t. But new in 2025, we’ve kept Saturday, August 16 open as a rain date.
- If a park performance is canceled due to rain, we’ll do our best to reschedule it on August 16.
- If we can't, we’re a touring production — and for that park, it’s either today… or next summer.
Q: Why try so hard to perform?
A: # 1 most important reason - Our audiences have planned to attend.
- No matter how hard we try to alert folks, there's always a few who arrive only to discover we had to cancel and try to re-schedule.
