Milwaukee's Shakespeare in the Park

Catch Much Ado About Nothing through July 22nd

They had me at Shakespeare, park, and Much Ado. Toss in FREE SHOW and I'm there on the first night of performances. Now through July 22nd, the Optimist Theatre is staging the Bard's tale of love, jealousy, treachery, and wit at the Peck Pavilion downtown — for free. 

Quick note on Much Ado: If you're unfamiliar with it, it's one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies; a battle of the sexes with a happy ending. If you're going to dip your toe into Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing is a great way to go. You can also familiarize yourself with the story in two movie versions — one from 1993 starring Denzel Washington, Emma Thompson, and Michael Keaton (just to name a few), or Joss Whedon's 2012 version. Both are worth your time.

So how does this free show work? All performances, save the matinee, begin at 8pm. Starting at 6pm, theater-goers are allowed to save seats (real stadium seats — not grass or benches!) with blankets and jackets. My friends and I arrived right at 6:00 and had our pick of the litter. We left our blankets sprawled across four seats, and retreated to the adjacent grove of trees for a picnic. 

I've driven past and probably even walked through the trees on Water and Kilbourn, but it never occurred to me to sit back and enjoy these urban woods. We parked ourselves on one of the many large concrete benches, in easy earshot of the soothing roar of a large fountain. That fountain is another thing I suppose I'd taken for granted, but sitting beneath tall shady trees on a 90-degree day, the fountain in view, it all felt vaguely European. Swoon.

My friends and I kept asking each other "How have we never done this before?" or "How did we not know this existed?" So I'm here to spread the word, not only about the phenomenal Shakespeare in the Park, but the entire experience. The Peck Pavilion hosts a whole slew of outdoor shows in the summertime, a fact I was completely oblivious to. 

But back to Much Ado: It was a sincere delight! Instead of typical Shakespearean drag, the scene was set in a beach-side bar to the tune of Hawaiian guitars and ukuleles — a fun, summery twist. The cast consisted entirely of local talent, many that you might recognize if you see enough theater in Milwaukee. There wasn't a dud in the bunch, rather the entire troupe had us laughing out loud and myself sighing, "That was wonderful," in the end.

And it was wonderful! You can hardly buy such a lovely evening, and Optimist Theatre is giving this one away for free. But as they'll remind you: While it's free to attend, it's not free to produce. Donations are welcome, so toss some cash in the basket at the end of the show, if you feel so moved. I'd wager you'll feel plenty moved indeed. 

Much Ado About Nothing is playing now through July 22nd at the Peck Pavilion. Find all the answers to your questions here!