All the world’s a stage, and this summer, the Hudson Shakespeare Company brings free theater to a park near you. The local theater group has been presenting the classics since 1992, and this summer they’ll be back in one of your favorite parks mounting several new productions.A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The classic romantic comedy of errors puts Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena in a bizarre love quadrilateral. Each of the lovers wants someone he or she can’t have. Add the bickering King and Queen of the Fairies to the mix – along with the puckish Puck and spells gone awry – and pandemonium ensues.
Coriolanus
In the immortal words of the Bee Gees: “Tragedy!” In the days before the rise of the Roman Empire, Shakespeare’s Coriolanus is Rome’s greatest general. Hint: Somebody dies at the end.
Lysistrata
OK, so this one’s by Aristophanes, not Shakespeare. Lysistrata, an Athenian woman, proposes an unusual tactic to stop to the endless war between Athens and Sparta: The women go on a sex strike. This one proves that racy comedy – and intractable wars – have been around for thousands of years.
Cymbeline
For starters, Cymbeline is a man. And he happens to be the King of Britain. His daughter, Imogen, is in love with a guy named Posthumus. (I swear I’m not making this up!) Come see this late Shakespeare romance to find out how it all turns out.
The play’s the thing
Shakespeare in the Park
Admission: Free
For more info: www.hudsonshakespeare.org
Hoboken
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Monday, June 14, 7 p.m., Sinatra Park
Coriolanus
Monday, June 21, 7 p.m., Shipyard Park
Monday, June 28, 7 p.m., Pier A Park
Monday, July 5, 7 p.m., Sinatra Park
Lysistrata
Monday, July 12, 7 p.m., Shipyard Park
Monday, July 19, 7 p.m., Pier A Park
Monday, July 26, 7 p.m., Sinatra Park
Cymbeline
Monday, August 2, 7 p.m., Shipyard Park
Monday, August 9, 7 p.m., Pier A Park
Monday, August 16, 7 p.m., Sinatra Park
Jersey City
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Thursday, June 10, 7 p.m., Van Vorst Park
Coriolanus
Wednesday, June 16, 7 p.m., Hamilton Park
Thursday, June 24, 7 p.m., Van Vorst Park
Lysistrata
Thursday, July 22, 7 p.m., Hamilton Park
Friday, July 30, 7 p.m., Van Vorst Park
Cymbeline
Thursday, August 5, 7 p.m., Hamilton Park
Thursday, August 19, 7 p.m., Van Vorst Park
Union City
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Thursday, June 17, 7 p.m., Ellsworth Park
Coriolanus
Thursday, July 8, 7 p.m., Ellsworth Park
Lysistrata
Thursday, July 29, 7 p.m., Ellsworth Park
Cymbeline
Thursday, August 12, 7 p.m., Ellsworth Park
Secaucus
Cymbeline
Monday, August 23, 7:30 p.m., Buchmuller Park
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
