Shakespeare in the Park

About

Welcome to free Shakespeare in the Park! Presented at the beautiful Peck Pavilion in downtown Milwaukee, WI. Our annual summer production is presented free of charge by Optimist Theatre. www.OptimistTheatre.org

Story

Optimist Theatre has presented Free Shakespeare in the Park since 2010. Support this event here and at our website, and join us for our 2017 season of Much Ado About Nothing.

Mission

We believe that the theatrical arts broaden and enrich those parts of our minds and spirits that are most essentially human. Optimist Theatre is driven to reach artists and audiences across the economic, ethnic, and experiential landscape. We educate, entertain, and inspire through creative works of artistic integrity.

Products

Optimist Theatre produces Milwaukee's Free Shakespeare in the Park.

Our seasons:
2019: "The Comedy of Errors" Celebrates our milestone 10th season!

2018: "King Lear" with Jim Pickering* as Lear, Robert Spencer* as the Fool, Malkia Stampley* as Cordelia, Tom Reed* as Edgar, Jonathan Wainwright* as Edmund, Jacque Troy as Goneril, and Kat Wodtke as Regan.

2017: "Much Ado About Nothing" with Kelley Faulkner* as Beatrice, Todd Denning* as Benedick, Michael Stebbins* as Don Pedro, David Flores as Leonato, Jonathan Wainwright* as Don Jon, D'Monte Henning as Claudio, Candace Thomas as Hero and Jim Pickering* as Dogberry. Directed by Tom Reed.

2016: "Julius Caesar" with Allen Edge* as Julius Caesar, Laura Gray* as Mark Antony Angela Iannone* as Brutus and Patrick Lawlor* as Cassius. Directed by Tom Reed.

2015: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Todd Denning* as Oberon, Malkia Stampley* as Titania, and Tom Reed* as Puck. Directed by Ron Scot Fry

2014 - "The Winter's Tale" Tom Reed as Leontes, Beth Mulkerron as Hermione and Autolycus, Mark A. Corkins as Polixenes, Mary B. Kababik as Paulina, Allie Babich as Perdita.

2013 - "As You Like It" Todd Denning as Touchstone, Kristin Hammargren as Rosalind, Patrick Lawler as Jacques, Sara Zientek as Celia

2012 - "Macbeth" Tom Reed as Macbeth, Marti Gobel as Lady Macbeth,

2011 - "Twelfth Night" starring Georgina McKee as Viola, Todd Denning* as Malvolio, Tom Reed* as Feste, Alison Mary Forbes as Olivia and Marcella Kearns as Maria. Directed by Ms. Laura Gordon.

2010 (Debut) - The Tempest starring James Pickering* as Prospero, Angela Iannone* as Ariel and Tom Reed* as Caliban.

*member of Actor's Equity.