During the summer, when many local theater companies dim their lights, Optimist Theatre shines brightly. In fact, its popular (and free!)
Shakespeare in the Park series is expanding this year from 10 performances to over 40, with four unique productions across 16 venues.
It even has a new name: Shakespeare in the City. We sat down with executive director Susan Scot Fry to talk about these big changes.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
This isn’t your first change. Three years ago, you made a major pivot when you became a touring company. What prompted that?
COVID brought up a lot of questions. … We thought, “Things have changed, but we still have resources. What do we want to accomplish with those resources?”
What about your expansion to Shakespeare in the City?
When we started touring, we became popular very fast. Demand exceeded capacity. And the change in the theater scene [because of the pandemic] led us to re-evaluate our financial resources and talk to a couple of large foundation sponsors.
Do you have a favorite venue?
Yes, actually. One of the parks that we went to in our very first year – and now go back to every year – is Lincoln Park. The space is just delightful. After that first year, Friends of Lincoln Park dubbed it “Shakespeare’s Meadow.”
Tell me about the Shakespeare Festival.
The second year that we toured [2022], we did a show at the Forest Home Cemetery, and it was stunning. It turned out to be a perfect setting for Shakespeare in the Park – it’s a space that can easily accommodate multiple stages at the same time. That’s the one day you’ll be able to see all four of the shows. And we’ve got some special guests. We’re going to pull out all the stops.
How did Optimist Theatre start in the first place?
In 1993, we started up a nonprofit called Midwest Children’s Theatre. Over time, we did more and more Shakespeare – and more shows for grown-ups. In 2009, we officially changed the name to Optimist Theatre and launched Shakespeare in the Park.
Was it an immediate success?
The first season was a huge success. We had no idea that we were going to strike such a chord with the people of Milwaukee.
Why do you think the series is so popular?
Shakespeare is the most well-known playwright in the English language, so there’s an immediate cultural connection. And outdoor culture in Milwaukee is huge in the summer – there’s a sense of joyful anticipation for it.
Shakespeare in the City runs June 15-July 21. For more information about year-round events, visit optimisttheatre.org.
UPDATE: The 2024 season of Shakespeare in the City ended July 21. Optimist Theatre shortened the season from its original 50 performances and canceled plans for this year’s Shakespeare Festival. The article has been updated to reflect these changes.
