Free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival returns for its 64th season. Here's what to know
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Now in its 64th season, Kentucky Shakespeare's free "Shakespeare in the Park" series promises your summer will be filled with comedy, romance, and magic.
“We are delighted to share an exciting season in Central Park," said Matt Wallace, producing artistic director of Kentucky Shakespeare. "The 2024 11-week season features 62 performances, and seven productions, all presented absolutely free to audience members."
Since 1960, Louisville has been treated to free outdoor performances of the plays by William Shakespeare thanks to Kentucky Shakespeare, making it the longest-running non-ticketed Shakespeare festival in the United States.
The 2024 season begins May 29 and runs through Aug. 11 at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater, 1340 S. Fourth St., in Old Louisville's Central Park. It includes the beloved "Romeo & Juliet," followed by the hilarious hijinks of the farce "The Comedy of Errors" and will conclude with the magical comedy "The Tempest."
The season will again feature two weeks of rotating repertory in July in which all three productions will rotate nightly. Shakespeare's beloved "Romeo & Juliet" is set in the Regency period.
"It will have a very 'Bridgerton' feel," Wallace said.
The 2024 season also includes the Globe Players professional training program for high school students with "Julius Caesar," Late Night Shakes with the Louisville Improvisors, and "Shakespeare in Dance: Lady Lear" with the Louisville Ballet. Plus, don't miss the late-night performances with GLOBE Arm Wrestling from the Louisville Fringe Festival featuring Shakespeare characters going "arm-to-arm" in a unique live theatrical experience.
In addition to the stage productions, the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival features a popular Kids’ Globe tent that will open an hour before every performance with free interactive arts-based activities tied to the production, and various community groups will perform pre-shows at 7:15 p.m. nightly throughout the summer.
Performances on the main stage begin at 8 p.m. but come early. Starting at 6 p.m., a variety of 60-plus food trucks from the Louisville Food Truck Association will rotate nightly throughout the summer with two to three per night. At 7 p.m., Will’s Tavern (a Brown-Forman Bar) and Will’s Gift Shop will open.
Here's what to know about the 2024 Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park:
'Romeo & Juliet'
WHAT: The season kicks off with the timeless tale of star-crossed lovers caught between two worlds. Romance leads to loss, then grace, in this beautiful and tragic love story.
WHEN: May 29-June 16; July 17, 20, 23, 26 (no performances on Mondays or Tuesdays in June). ASL interpretation will be provided on Thursday, June 6.
CREDITS: Directed by Matt Wallace
'The Comedy of Errors'
WHAT: Laughter abounds in this madcap comedy, a farcical tale of long-lost siblings, mistaken identities, love at first sight, and happily-ever-afters.
WHEN: June 20-30; July 16, 19, 24, 27 (no performances on Mondays or Tuesdays in June). ASL interpretation will be provided on Thursday, June 27.
CREDITS: Directed by Amy Attaway
'The Tempest'
WHAT: Shakespeare’s final play is a testament to the redeeming power of love and forgiveness, featuring fools, spirits, monsters, shipwrecks, and magical spells.
WHEN: July 5-14; July 18, 21, 25, 28 (no performances on Mondays). ASL interpretation will be provided on Thursday, July 11.
CREDITS: Directed by Matt Wallace
Kentucky Shakespeare's Globe Players presents 'Julius Caesar'
WHAT: Kentucky Shakespeare’s Globe Players professional training program takes the stage under the tutelage of Director of Education Kyle Ware. The cast is comprised of students from multiple area high schools and the production is the culmination of a five-week training program.
WHEN: July 31-Aug. 4
CREDIT: Directed by Kyle Ware
Louisville Ballet presents 'Shakespeare in Dance: Lady Lear'
WHAT: In the final week of the summer season, Louisville Ballet returns for a seventh season to present "Lady Lear," an original dance piece with choreography by Roger Creel and score by Scott Moore. Inspired by Shakespeare’s "King Lear," the piece premiered on the Festival stage in 2017.
WHEN: Aug. 7-11
CREDITS: Louisville Ballet
Louisville Improvisors present 'Lake Night Shakes'
WHAT: The Louisville Improvisors return for a ninth year with Late Night Shakes on select Saturdays, bringing late-night improvised Shakespeare plays created from audience suggestions.
WHEN: 10:15 p.m. on June 8 and 29, and July 20
CREDITS: Louisville Improvisors
Louisville Fringe Festival presents 'Globe Arm Wrestling'
WHAT: Louisville Fringe Festival returns for a second season presenting this hilarious late-night show featuring Shakespeare characters and professional wrestling-style antics, going arm-to-arm in this unique live theatrical event.
WHEN: 10:15 p.m. on June 15, July 13 and 27
CREDITS: Louisville Fringe Festival
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Shakespeare Festival announces its free 2024 season
