Free Shakespeare in the Park summer series

If you’re looking for cheap summer date nights, budget-friendly family outings, or just a reason to enjoy a warm evening outdoors, GreenStage’s annual Shakespeare in the Park series is one of the best free traditions in the Pacific Northwest.

Every July and August, Seattle’s longest-running outdoor theater company brings full-scale live theatrical performances to parks throughout the city. You can also see these shows and others during the free Outdoor Summer Theater Festival.

These shows are free to attend, too. You simply grab your blanket, pick a spot on the grass, and enjoy high-quality live theater under the open sky.

What’s on the Stage This Season?

Whether you want a grand evening performance in a major park or a quick, lightweight show in your local neighborhood playfield, GreenStage runs two distinct show formats throughout the summer.

Mainstage Shows

These are full-length, two-hour productions. Select mainstage performances also feature live American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation. This year’s offerings are:

• The Winter’s Tale (a romantic story of jealousy, loss, and redemption)
• Coriolanus (a gripping political drama about power and pride)

Backyard Bard

These fast-paced, family-friendly shows are one-hour adaptations designed for smaller parks. This season’s lineup includes:

• The Tempest
• The Two Noble Kinsmen, a rarely staged work

GreenStage Shakespeare in the Park schedule

Camp Long (West Seattle)

• Friday, August 7, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale
• Saturday, August 8, 7 p.m. Coriolanus

Cowen Park (Ravenna/Roosevelt)

• Friday, July 31, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest
• Saturday, August 1, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen

David Rodgers Park (Queen Anne)

• Friday, August 7, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen
• Saturday, August 8, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest

Discovery Park (Magnolia)

• Friday, July 31, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale
• Saturday, August 1, 7 p.m. Coriolanus

Fall City Park (Fall City)

• Friday, July 24, 7 p.m. Coriolanus

Lincoln Park (West Seattle)

• Friday, August 14 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale

Lower Woodland Park (Green Lake)

• Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m. Coriolanus
• Friday, August 14, 7 p.m. Coriolanus
• Saturday, August 15, 1 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest
• Saturday, August 15, 2:15 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen
• Saturday, August 15, 4 p.m. Coriolanus
• Saturday, August 15, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale

Lynndale Park (Lynnwood)

• Thursday, July 23, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale (ASL Interpreted)
• Thursday, July 30, 7 p.m. Coriolanus (ASL Interpreted)

Magnuson Park Amphitheater (Sand Point)

• Friday, July 31, 7 p.m. Coriolanus
• Saturday, August 1, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, August 2, 7 p.m. Coriolanus

Marvista Park (Normandy Park)

• Sunday, August 2, 5 p.m. The Winter’s Tale

Ober Park (Vashon Island)

• Sunday, July 26, 5 p.m. The Winter’s Tale

Othello Park (Rainier Valley)

• Friday, July 24, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen

Pratt Park (Central District)

• Friday, August 14, 7 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest

Sandel Park (Crown Hill)

• Sunday, August 2, 3 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest
• Sunday, August 2, 4:15 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen

View Ridge Playfield (View Ridge)

• Sunday, August 9 3 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest
• Sunday, August 9 4:15 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen

Volunteer Park (Capitol Hill)

• Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale (ASL Interpreted) (SOTF)
• Sunday, July 26, 2 p.m. Coriolanus (ASL Interpreted) (SOTF)
• Sunday, July 26, 4 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Tempest (SOTF)
• Sunday, July 26, 5:15 p.m. Backyard Bard: The Two Noble Kinsmen (SOTF)
• Friday, August 7, 7 p.m. Coriolanus
• Saturday, August 8, 7 p.m. The Winter’s Tale (ASL Interpreted)
• Sunday, August 9, 3 p.m. The Winter’s Tale
• Sunday, August 9, 7 p.m. Coriolanus (ASL Interpreted)

On the Cheap Tips 

To make the most of your free night out without spending a dime, keep these simple insider tips in mind before you head out:

• Seating Rules: Seating is first-come, first-served on the lawn. Blankets and low-backed lawn chairs (under 10 inches high) can sit anywhere in the main area. If you bring standard-height lawn chairs or camping chairs, plan to sit behind the “tall chair line” marked by yellow signs so you don’t block the view for blanket sitters.
• Pack a DIY Picnic: Outside food and drink are allowed at every venue. 
• Arrive Early: Shows don’t require tickets, but popular parks like Volunteer Park, Discovery Park and Lower Woodland can fill up fast. Aim to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before showtime to claim a prime viewing spot.

Shakespeare in the Park schedule by day

 

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