Shakespearean Fairy Tale to Delight Viewers This Summer at Centennial Park

Nashville’s Shakespeare in the Park begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 with ‘The Winter’s Tale’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Shakespeare Festival premieres its 2017 season of Shakespeare in the Park on Thursday, Aug. 10 at Centennial Park’s band shell.

The annual summer event begins with a performance of The Winter’s Tale, directed by Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Artistic Associate and Apprentice Company Director, Santiago Sosa. The Winter’s Tale is performed Aug. 10-13, 24-25 and Sept. 2-4, 7-8 and 16-17. The play is then performed Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Franklin’s Academy Park

The 2017 season of Shakespeare in the Park’s The Winter’s Tale is followed by Antony & Cleopatra beginning Aug. 17 and directed by David Ian Lee. One cast performs both shows in repertory.

The Winter’s Tale is a fanciful story set in a fairy tale world of contrasting peoples inspired by South American cultures during the Gran Colombia era. The performance also features original music by Natalie Bell, who composed the score for Winter Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet at Belmont’s Troutt Theater.

Guests are encouraged to arrive early for the best blanket and lawn chair space or find an available seat on the benches or bleachers. Food trucks begin serving at 6 p.m. with featured vendors, such as Jeni’s Ice Cream, Lil’ Choo Choo BBQ, Moosehead Kettle Corn, King Tut’s and Dose Coffee. The free Talking Shakespeare series with nightly special guest speakers also begins at 6 p.m. with pre-show entertainment starting at 6:30 p.m.

General admission is open to the public with a $10 per person donation suggested. Royal Packages are available for those seeking the ultimate VIP experience. This package is the festival’s signature fundraiser and includes reserved parking, prime seating, a gourmet picnic dinner from Bacon & Caviar Catering, personal welcome from the Nashville Shakespeare Festival staff and a souvenir gift for $75.

Shakespeare in the Park is supported in part by the Metro Nashville Arts Commission and The Tennessee Arts Commission.

For more information, visit www.nashvilleshakes.org, email rickeychick@nashvilleshakes.org or call 615-255-2273.

About The Nashville Shakespeare Festival

Founded in 1988, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival educates and entertains the Mid-South community through high-quality Shakespearean experiences. The company is one of the region’s leading professional theatres and since its inception, more than 500,000 Tennesseans have experienced the arts through one of their programs, which include Shakespeare in the Park, Winter Shakespeare, Shakespeare in Action and other educational initiatives. For more information or to attend a show, visit www.nashvilleshakes.org or call 615-255-2273.

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