BWW Previews: Optimist Theatre Lights Up A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Shakespeare in the Park

By: Jun. 08, 2015
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

This July, try something new to christen midsummer. Attend Shakespeare in the Park! Come and enjoy the outdoors, picnic, and view theatre under the stars for free! Inspired by New York City's renowned Shakespeare in the Park, Milwaukee's Optimist Theatre co-founded by Ron and Susan Scot Fry and their dedicated cadre of Milwaukee, the theatrical troupe began a journey to produce the admission free production to realize their planned mission: "Theater driven to reach artists and audiences across the economic, ethnic and experiential landscape."

After the company's first premiere of The Tempest in 2010, six years later Optimist Theatre presents A Midsummer Night's Dream, which according to Susan Scot Fry was "the perfect time to lighten up, for the sheer joy of performing Shakespeare's delightful comedy."

Directed this year by Ron Fry, the 2015 production sets Shakespeare's romantic mayhem in 1967, the era of America's flower children. A setting that harkens to the themes in the play where King Oberon and Queen Titania, the fantasy fairy royalty, command the forest while love and mischief take center stage. Susan Scot Fry explains, "There's every social construct in this show..and this time frame allows for a beautiful visual concept, a depth in the costuming and the music."

Produced at the outdoor Selig-Joseph Folz amphitheater in Kadish Park overlooking Milwaukee's skyline, in the same neighbothood the Children's Outing Association (COA), a 100-year old social service organization serving the city's families and youth, generously hosts the theater company in an effort to draw fresh audiences unfamiliar with Shakespeare and live theater. One of the central city's treasures, Kadish Park welcomes those from the closest neighborhoods, within walking distance, from several ethnically and economically diverse developments and fulfills the company's original mission.

The popular Optimist performances command sold out crowds and all seats are free. This year, to support the company's long range financial development, a $50 sponsorship rewards the donor with a reserved seat at their chosen performance, with several performances already sold out. For the future, Optimist Theatre dreams of finding and funding a permanent location while continuing to attract new sponsors who will assure the free Shakespeare production will be around next summer.

One production per year requires close to $20,000 to produce even on a tight budget due to the large casts and the costumes necessary to perform this completely professional production. Optimist honors gender free and integrated casting, inherent to Shakespeare's original 16th century roots, where woman were originally banned from acting in any production. After the production concludes, Optimist Theatre begins organizing a development plan to insure Shakespeare in the Park will enrich Milwaukee for another 20 years.

Corporate sponsorships and grants along with individual donors become necessary to fund the 90 percent free admission production as well as volunteers to participate in letter writing, tapping social media, and contacting small business, a more hands on approach to garnering funding than in the past. NewYork's free Central Park Shakespeare theater celebrates 50 years in 2015. Susan Scot Fry believes this would be possible for Milwaukee to achieve through perseverance and dedicated effort. Since Wisconsin spends less than $1.00 per person on the arts, one of the lowest in the country, corporate and private funding takes on imperative importance.

More than any additional funding or sponsorship, Susan Scot Fry adamantly invites everyone to see a live performance or theater this summer. Seating for A Midsummer Night's Dream on two July weekends, July 9-11, and 16-19, opens at six where theatergoers can picnic and enjoy the summer weather, with the performance beginning at 8:00 pm. Reservations are taken through the website to assure a free seat. "Please come to see the show," Fry emphatically requests. "Enrich your life. Try something new this summer. If it's not Shakespeare in the Park, just see theater and try something new! "

Optimist Theatre presents free Shakespeare in the Park, A Midsummer Night's Dream, at Kadish Park July 9-16. For more information on perfromance dates, production information, or Summer Sponsorships, or to reserve free tickets, please visit www.optimisttheatre,org.



Videos