What you need to know about free summer Shakespeare shows in Milwaukee and Wisconsin parks

Theater lovers and the Shakespeare curious can see two of the Bard's plays in free, outdoor productions this summer around the Milwaukee area.

Summit Players Theatre will stage the classic tragedy "Macbeth," while Optimist Theatre, also known as Shakespeare in the Park, will present "Cymbeline." Both productions will use a modest number of actors playing all roles to perform shortened versions of Shakespeare's texts.

Summit Players will perform 'Macbeth' in Wisconsin state parks

With a cast of six actors, Summit will stage "Macbeth" in 22 different state parks this summer. Director Maureen Kilmurry has condensed Shakespeare's tragedy about a ruthlessly ambitious couple to about 75 minutes. Performing outside should give the play's prophecy about Birnam Wood a fresh piquancy.

Prior to each performance, Summit presents a 45-minute workshop on the play and its artistry; workshops start about 90 minutes before performance time. Summit suggests its shows work best for people 8 and older; younger audience members are welcome, but some of the program may over their heads.

Summit performs around the state. Scheduled dates close to the Milwaukee area include 7 p.m. July 10, Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee; 7 p.m. July 15, Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Lane, Sheboygan; 7 p.m. Aug. 18, Pike Lake Unit, Kettle Moraine State Forest, 3544 Kettle Moraine Road, Hartford; and 7 p.m. Aug. 19, Havenwoods.

By performing outside, Summit may be skirting a famous superstition — that uttering the title of the "Scottish play" in a theater brings on bad luck.

For info on Summit's 2023 performances, including scheduled shows in other parts of the state, visit summitplayerstheatre.com or facebook.com/summitplayerstheatre.

Optimist Theatre performs 'Cymbeline' in Milwaukee locales

Using a mobile set, an Optimist cast of 8 actors will perform Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" from July 9 through Aug. 13 at 10 Milwaukee sites.

Director M.L. Cogar is sculpting the text into a 90-minute script. The genre-crossing "Cymbeline" is impossible to summarize in a single sentence, but it includes an ancient king of Britain, a banished son-in-law, a test of a wife's fidelity, kidnapped children raised elsewhere, a secret marriage and that Shakespearean favorite, a woman disguised as a man.

Ron Scot Fry is designing and drawing backdrops based on the Book of Kells for this production.

The performance schedule: 5 p.m. July 9, Alverno College campus lawn, 3400 S. 43rd St.; 4 p.m. July 15, Washington Park (near the senior center), 4420 W. Vliet St.; 5 p.m. July 16, Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave.; 4 p.m. July 22, King Park, 1531 W. Vliet St.; 4 p.m. July 23, Sherman Park, 3000 N. Sherman Blvd.; 5 p.m. July 30, Mitchell Park (behind, or east, of the Domes), 524 S. Layton Blvd.; 5 p.m. Aug. 5, Forest Home Cemetery and Arboretum, 2405 W. Forest Home Ave.; 5 p.m. Aug. 6, Lincoln Park, 1301 W. Hampton Ave., Glendale; 5 p.m. Aug. 12, Lake Park, 2975 N. Lake Park Road; 5 p.m. Aug. 13, Marcus Performing Arts Center grounds, 929 N. Water St.

While performances are free, Optimist suggests online registration. In some past performances, demand for seating has exceeded availables spots, the theater said.

For info, visit optimisttheatre.org or facebook.com/ShaxParkMKE.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Free summer Shakespeare shows coming to Milwaukee: What to know