Shakespeare in the Parks Spring Tour
LOUISVILLE, KY – March 19, 2018 – Kentucky Shakespeare is proud to announce the 2018 SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARKS tour. Their 6-actor, 80-minute production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM will tour to 25 Kentuckiana locations this spring, bringing free Shakespeare to local neighborhoods April 7-May 19, 2018.
“For the fifth year in a row, in addition to our summer-long festival in Central Park, we’re delighted to tour free Shakespeare in the Park to parks across the area. This spring, we branch out further, touring to a record 25 parks, spanning distance from Chickasaw Park to La Grange, from New Albany to the Parklands of Floyds Park,” says Producing Artistic Director Matt Wallace. “This fun new adaptation of Shakespeare’s popular play is great for all ages and is filled physical comedy, hilarious characters, and lots of magic.” He added, “We have to thank the nineteen Louisville Metro Council members who’ve sponsored performances in their districts, plus White Clay, Locust Grove, Norton Commons, the Tyler Park Neighborhood Association, the Mayors and cities of Lyndon, New Albany, Jeffersonville, St. Matthews, La Grange, Shively, Pewee Valley and Jeffersontown. We’re grateful so many people have come together to bring this special free family event to neighborhoods across the area!”
The production is directed by Amy Attaway, Kentucky Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director, and features an ensemble cast of six professional actors: Shaleen Cholera as Lysander, Tamara Dearing as Titania, Charity Means as Hermia, Colin Nesmith as Oberon, Neill Robertson as Demetrius, and Sabrina Spalding as Helena. All of the actors also play other multiple roles in the production. The production features costumes by Donna Lawrence-Downs, sound design by Laura Ellis, and set design by Hannah Allgeier, with Racheal Luther as the stage manager.
Audience members are invited to bring their own chairs, blankets, and picnics for this free, family-friendly community event.
Kentucky Shakespeare will also tour the production to schools across the state as part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Kentucky Shakespeare is one of 40 professional theater companies selected to participate in bringing the finest productions of Shakespeare to middle- and high-school students in communities across the United States.
Dates, Places and Times of the productions are as follows:
April 7, 2018 – 1:00PM
Baxter Square Park
301 South 12th Street, Louisville, KY 40203
Rain Space: Baxter Community Center
Sponsor: Councilwoman Barbara Sexton-Smith, District 4
April 7, 2018 – 6:30PM
Community Park, St. Matthews
310 Ten Pin Lane, Louisville, KY 40207
Rain Space: Waggener Traditional High School
Sponsor: City of St. Matthews
April 13, 2018 – 6:30PM
Norton Commons Amphitheater
10712 Meeting Street, Prospect, KY 40059
Rain Space: YMCA Norton Commons
Sponsor: Norton Commons
April 14, 2018 – 1:00PM
Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park
3730 River Road, Louisville, KY 40207
Rain Space: TBD
Sponsor: Councilwoman Angela Leet, District 7; Councilman Bill Hollander, District 9
April 14, 2018 – 6:30PM
Emerson Park
1100 Sylvia St, Louisville, KY 40205
Rain Space: Shelby Traditional
Sponsor: Councilman Pat Mulvihill, District 10
April 15, 2018 – 1:00PM
Riverview Park
8202 Greenwood Rd, Louisville, KY 40258
Rain Space: Pleasure Ridge Park High School
Sponsor: Councilman Rick Blackwell, District 12
April 15, 2018 – 6:30PM
Chicasaw Park
1200 Southwestern Parkway, Louisville, KY 40211
Rain Space: TBD
Sponsor: Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, District 5
April 20, 2018 – 6:30PM
Highview Park
201 Outer Loop, Louisville, KY 40228
Rain Space: Central Government Center
Councilman James Peden, District 23
April 21, 2018 – 1:00PM
LaGrange Park
Park Lane, LaGrange, KY 40031
Rain Space: City Place
Sponsor: City of LaGrange
April 22, 2018 - 1:00PM
Iroquois Park Amphitheater
2120 Rundill Rd, Louisville, KY 40214
Rain Space: Same
Sponsors: Councilwoman Vicky Aubrey Welch, District 13; Councilwoman Marianne Butler, District 15; Vitalis Lanshima, District 21; Councilman David Yates, District 25
April 22, 2018 – 6:30PM
Tyler Park
1501 Castlewood Avenue, Louisville, KY 40204
Rain Space: Same (Pavilion)
Sponsor: Councilman Brandon Coen, District 8; Tyler Park Neighborhood Association
April 27, 2018 – 6:30PM
Locust Grove
561 Blankenbaker Ln, Louisville, KY 40207
Rain Space: Same
Sponsor: Locust Grove
April 27, 2018 – 10:00AM
Russell Lee Park
701 Southern Ave, Louisville, KY 40211
Rain Space: Southwick Community Center
Sponsor: Councilwoman Jessica Green, District 1
April 28, 2018 – 6:30PM
Shively Park
1902 Park Road, Shively, KY 40216
Rain Space: Shively Community Center
Sponsor: Shively City Council
April 28, 2018 – 1:00PM
Victory Park
701 Southern Ave, Louisville, KY 40211
Rain Space: St. Stephen Family Life Center
Sponsor: Council President David James, District 6
April 29, 2018 – 1:00PM
Robison Park
Robison Park Drive, Lyndon, KY 40222
Rain Space: Lyndon City Hall
Sponsor: City of Lyndon, Brent Hagan-Mayor
April 29, 2018 – 6:30PM
Sun Valley Park
6616 Ashby Lane, Louisville, KY 40272
Rain Space: Sun Valley Community Center
Sponsor: Councilwoman Cindi Fowler, District 14
May 6, 2018 – 6:30PM
Hounz Lane Park
2300 Hounz Ln, Louisville, KY 40223
Rain Space: Westport Road Baptist Church
Sponsor: Councilman Glen Stuckel, District 17
May 11, 2018 – 6:30PM
The Jeffersonian, Jeffersontown
10617 Taylorsville Road, Jeffersontown, KY 40299
Rain Space: The Jeffersonian
Sponsor: Mayor Bill Dieruf; Jeffersontown City Council
May 12, 2018 – 1:00PM
New Albany Amphitheater
201 E Water Street, New Albany, IN 47150
Rain Space: Silver Street Park
Sponsor: Jeff Gahan, Mayor, City of New Albany
May 12, 2018 – 6:30PM
Petersburg Park
5008 East Indian Trail, Louisville, KY 40218
Rain Space: Price Elementary
Sponsor: Councilwoman Barbara Shanklin, District 2
May 13, 2018 – 1:00PM
Broad Run Park – Parklands
11551 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40291
Rain Space: Same
Sponsor: Councilman Stuart Benson, District 20
May 13, 2018 – 6:30PM
Central Park – Pewee Valley
11551 Bardstown Rd, Louisville, KY 40291
Rain Space: Peewee Valley Presbyterian Church
Sponsor: City of Pewee Valley
May 18, 2018 – 6:30PM
Big Four Station Park
Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Rain Space: Same
Sponsors: Mike Moore, Mayor, City of Jeffersonville; Jeffersonville Public Art Commission; Jeffersonville Main Street; Jeffersonville Arts Alliance
May 19, 2018 – 6:30PM
Story Avenue Park
1519 Story Ave, Louisville, KY 40206
Rain Space: Crescent Hill Methodist Church
Sponsor: Councilman Bill Hollander, District 9 and White Clay
If you would like to schedule an interview with Matt Wallace, Producing Artistic Director, or learn more about Kentucky Shakespeare, please contact Robert Silverthorn III at 574-9900 ext. 11 or rob@kyshakespeare.com.
For more information about Kentucky Shakespeare visit www.kyshakespeare.com.