Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Brings 'Hamlet' to a Park Near You

There’s something so 1600s about watching Shakespeare in the open air, just as he once did in the round of the Globe Theatre. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is delivering just that as it kicks off its next season, dubbed “Project Hamlet,” by hitting the road with its free, touring production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The production travels to over 30 parks in the region to deliver performances of the classic play, from Cincinnati to Kentucky to Indiana.

The classic play, which tells the story of Prince Hamlet avenging his father’s death, may seem eerie. The show features revenge and poisoned blades and underscores the vengeful journey of its titular character. Hamlet specifically has also been adapted countless times, from dramatic retellings to film adaptations, such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and The Lion King. Nonetheless, Associate Artistic Director Candice Handy notes the fun undertones she aims to play into with this new production, along with gripping intensity and a noted set-within-a-set that she describes as “over-the-top.”

“I’m tapping into the grandiose themes around being a part of court life. It’s going to be over the top,” said Handy. “What I didn’t want is a dark, black blazers (production). My idea is that this is a colorful Hamlet, it’s how Hamlet sees everyone else in their mind.”

The Shakespeare in the Park series is one of the nation’s largest offerings of Shakespeare, as well as one of the sole outdoor theater experiences in the region each summer. The shows also attract more than 10,000 community members at more than 30 parks across a two-mile radius from the company’s home base in Over-the-Rhine.

After each performance, eight company members travel with the set to various outdoor locations and perform completely free of charge — no tickets required. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs and to enjoy the entertainment under the summer sky. The hope is to connect with more people who don’t often go to the theater in a casual and welcoming environment, Handy says.

“The tour set can be put together and broken down by the cast of eight actors. They set it up, they do the show and they break it down,” said Handy. “I think it bridges a gap that can be between people who don’t go to the theater and people who do…It reaches more audience members than any other program, and it’s free access.”

Shakespeare in the Park began offering free performances for the public in 2007, but Cincinnati Shakespeare Company last performed Hamlet just three years ago and, before that, in 2014 — the same year the company achieved the distinction of being one of just five theaters across the nation to have performed all 38 of Shakespeare’s plays.

“No one should be afraid to see or hear Shakespeare. The stories are classic and relate to so many people,” she said. “I think (the series) exposes Shakespeare and theater art to more people. I’ve seen people even walking by that will stop and end up watching the whole thing. It’s a nice day in the park for families.”

Frequent patrons of the company may remember Handy’s directing work from past shows like Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom last season and The Amen Corner this past year. The latter also starred Beasley, an actor playing the titular Hamlet in this summer’s production. The show includes scenic design by Samantha Reno, costume design by Rainy Edwards, sound and lighting design by Robert Carlton Stimmel and properties design by Kara Eble Trusty. The show’s eight ensemble members also play multiple roles in the show, with 18 noted characters and an understudy.

Following the summer tour in CSC’s season is Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham by James Ijames, a new spin on the play set in modern times at a backyard barbecue in a small Southern town. This is its first production in the area since its 2021 Broadway premiere, which garnered a Tony nomination for Best Play. Amid many other classic titles, the season concludes with a world premiere play, A Room in the Castle, by Lauren M. Gunderson, which focuses on the women of Hamlet and is co-produced by Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C.

The series runs through Sept. 1, stretching from Cincinnati to Kentucky and Indiana. The show schedule denotes the availability of American Sign Language interpreting at select performances, and updates regarding the weather can be found on the company’s social media profiles or website. All performances are free and run for 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. Attendees are encouraged to reach out to venue officials with site-specific questions.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Hamlet runs through Sept. 1 at various outdoor venues in Greater Cincinnati. More info: cincyshakes.com.

This story is featured in CityBeat’s July 24 print edition.

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