Shakespeare Festival in Forest Park Returns

This year's Saint Louis Shakespeare Festival opens August 12 and runs through September 6 with open-air (En plein air) Shakespearean themed art, music, and poetry inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream" trip into a woods and billed as "A Late Summer Night's Stroll" set in Forest Park. There will be performances along a walkway of fourteen artistic arches created by local artists that guide as you wend your way through the 80-90 minute self-guided tour. Tom Ridgely, Production and Artistic Director of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, along with the St. Louis Health Department have developed the Covid-19 safety guidelines that include social distance and mask requirements of pre-registered small tour groups of less than ten. Pre-set groups will not be changed or added to and family groups are suggested. This year's Shakespeare's Glen mainstage performance of "Much Ado About Nothing" was postponed due to the pandemic but Ridgely's creative innovation has brought a new format to the event.

Among the performers listed are: Lynn Berg, Mo Burns, Audrey Crabtree, Laura Coppinger, Britteny Henry, Mary Heyl, Eleanor Humphrey, Gina Malone, Carl Overly, Jr. , Keating, Leann Schuering, and Michael Tran. Costume Designer is Claudia Brownlee. Local Painted Black STL selected artists include: Sherelle Speed, Brock Seals, Jayvn Solomon, BriLynn Asia, Tielere Cheatem, Jessie Donovan, Kyla Hawkins, Tyler Harris, Nicholaus Lawery.

For online reservations visit stlshakes.org and select a waiting list date.