This season, which begins June 12 and ends July 21, will feature "The Odyssey" and "Twelfth Night."
“It's amazing watching everyone picnic and enjoy an event together,” said Jenni Stewart, Shakespeare Dallas interim executive and artistic director. “The other thing that makes it so special is that, since we’ve been going a long time, it's very generational. We meet people all the time who say, 'I started coming when I was a kid, now my kids are coming.' It's a lovely tradition that is shared across generations, which is cool.”
The backstory
Shakespeare Festival of Dallas was founded by Bob Glenn in 1972. While living in New York City, Glenn was inspired by the New York Shakespeare festival and wanted to bring something similar to his hometown of Dallas.
The nonprofit started out performing at the bandshell at Fair Park in Dallas. In 1989, because of some changes at Fair Park, the production was moved to the Samuell Grand Amphitheater in Dallas, and it has remained there ever since.
“I swear it always feels about 8-to-10 degrees cooler than whatever the temperature says at the airport,” Stewart said. “I always think it's so lovely, and there’s always a nice breeze here.”
The company was called Shakespeare Festival of Dallas until 2005 when it was rebranded as Shakespeare Dallas. Year-round programming, such as educational programming, indoor performances and a lecture series, were added.
What to expect
This production of "The Odyssey" is an adaptation of Homer’s narrative poem.
“Mary Zimmerman took the Robert Fitzgerald translation of that poem and resorted it into a play that everyone can enjoy,” Stewart said. “It’s reasonable in length and has characters telling the story. It will be action packed, there’s romance in it [and] mythical sci-fi creatures. There will be puppets and special effects. I think everyone, no matter what age, will enjoy it.”
Stewart said that "Twelfth Night" is one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies and is very musical.
“The opening line is, ‘If music be the food of love, play on.’ It has all these beautiful songs that will have original compositions for this production,” she said. “It's all romance and all funny, funny, funny. It's another one great for all ages.”
Quote of note
Every summer, approximately 30,000 people attend Shakespeare in the Park.
“One thing I love about our patrons is this is a real meeting ground for everybody who lives in North Texas,” Stewart said. “You see all different types of folks out here. My favorite is the teenagers who have their Little Caesars pizza sitting next to people who have their charcuterie spread from Central Market.”
- June 21-July 21
- 1500 Tennison Parkway, Dallas
- www.shakespearedallas.org