Our 52nd Season

Born from aspirations to bring the timeless tales of William Shakespeare directly to rural and under-served communities, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has been enriching the lives of people in Montana, and beyond, for 52 seasons.

This summer, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is pleased to announce that our summer parks tour performances of  Shakespeare’s Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale will be coming to a community near you!

This summer, 11 actors will embark on 2 classic tales; Hamlet, directed by Kevin Asselin, and The Winter’s Tale, directed by Eva Brenaman.

Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark who returns home following the sudden death of his father. The most famous ghost story ever told, Hamlet grapples with the weight of his responsibility to avenge his father’s death, to out-maneuver his traitorous uncle, and “to be, or not to be.” With some of Shakespeare’s most memorable lines and iconic characters, audiences won’t want to miss this tale of love and loss, duty vs desire, and the power of performance.

As for The Winter’s Tale, this play spans sixteen years during which a jealous king accuses his wife of infidelity and exiles his newborn daughter to Bohemia where she is raised by shepherds and, ultimately, falls in love with the Bohemian king’s son. Audiences are sure to relish this story of love, loss, and forgiveness.

This summer, the company performs in 65 communities across five states including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington, serving the largest number of communities to date. Most events will feature pre-show performances by local artists and audiences are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy an evening together under the Big Sky among friends and neighbors.

We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana’s cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund.