Kentucky Shakespeare Festival announces its professional season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 25, 2017) The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park has announced its professional season, May 31 – August 13, and it includes a comedy, a history and a tragedy. This is the 57th season of the annual free festival, making it the oldest free Shakespeare Festival in the United States. All performances take stage in Central Park in historic Old Louisville at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater.

The season kicks off on May 31 with Much Ado About Nothing. One of the Bard’s classic comedies, the production will be set in the Regency Period of Jane Austen, featuring original music composed by Louisville-native David Gilliam.

Richard II follows, beginning on June 15. This play marked the beginning of Shakespeare’s second historical tetralogy, also known as the Henriad. Kentucky Shakespeare will present the four plays over the next four years as its “Game of Kings” series – following Richard II with Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and culminating with Henry V in 2020, the Festival’s 60th season.

This year’s season rounds out with the tragedy Julius Caesar beginning on June 29. Set in 44 BC, the political thriller explores power and ambition in ancient Rome.

Each production begins at 8 p.m. and will run for two weeks. All three productions will rotate in repertory July 11 – 23. All three productions will be performed in a single night starting at 4:30 p.m. on July 22, for the fourth annual Bard-A-Thon.

The Festival will again feature nightly pre-show entertainment, rotating food trucks from the Louisville Food Truck Association, Will’s Gift Shop and Will’s Tavern.

Visit www.kyshakespeare.com for more information on the above plays and all the other programs and performances offered by the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival.