“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” Shakespeare wrote in his 18th sonnet. Make sure your summer doesn’t pass by too quickly by indulging in one of the many free Shakespeare in the Park performances around Los Angeles.
We’ve compiled a schedule of all of the free and donation-based Shakespeare to be found in the Los Angeles area during the summer of 2018.
While admission is free for any and all, why not leave a few dollars to help continue supporting free Shakespeare in the City of Angel?
Check out the listings below, and enjoy the show!
Shakespeare in the Park
2018 marks the 15th year of the Independent Shakespeare Co. Ten weeks of free Shakespeare will launch on June 30 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Titus Andronicus then begins on July 28, and both plays run through September 2 at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays-Sundays. Check this link for a detailed schedule. Arrive early to nab a good seat.
Shakespeare by the Sea
Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances with two featured productions: The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Winter’s Tale.
Shows will take place at a variety of venues across the Los Angeles area, including stops in Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Hermosa Beach, South Pasadena, Whittier, and an extended run at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.
The complete schedule is as follows:
June 14: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 15: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 16: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 21: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 22: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 23: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 28: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 29: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
June 30: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
July 5: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
July 6: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
July 7: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
July 8: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Hesse Park in Rancho Palos Verdes at 7 p.m.
July 11: The Winter’s Tale – Valley Park in Hermosa Beach at 7 p.m
July 12: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Valley Park in Hermosa Beach at 7 p.m.
July 13: The Winter’s Tale – Monte Verde Park in Lakewood at 7 p.m.
July 14: The Winter’s Tale – Rush Park in Los Alamitos at 7 p.m.
July 18: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Schabarum Regional Park in Rowland Heights at 7 p.m.
July 19: The Winter’s Tale – Garfield Park in South Pasadena at 7 p.m.
July 20: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro at 7 p.m.
July 21: The Winter’s Tale – Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach at 7 p.m.
July 22: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Cesar Chavez Park in Long Beach at 7 p.m.
July 25: The Winter’s Tale – La Mirada Regional Park in La Mirada at 7 p.m.
July 26: The Winter’s Tale – Birch Park in Santa Ana at 7 p.m.
July 27: The Winter’s Tale – Wilson Park in Torrance at 7 p.m.
July 28: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Wilson Park in Torrance at 7 p.m.
July 29: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Terreana Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes at 7 p.m.
August 1: The Winter’s Tale – Adventure Park in Whitter at 7 p.m.
August 2: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Garfield Park in South Pasadena at 7 p.m.
August 3: The Winter’s Tale – Potocki Center for the Arts in Mission Viejo at 7 p.m.
August 4: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino at 7 p.m.
August 5: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Eisenhower Park in Seal Beach at 7 p.m.
August 8: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Soka University in Aliso Viejo at 7 p.m.
August 9: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Roxbury Park in Beverly Hills at 7 p.m.
August 10: The Winter’s Tale – Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach at 7 p.m.
August 12: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Crown Valley Park in Laguna Niguel at 7 p.m.
August 15: The Winter’s Tale – CSU Dominguez Hills in Carons at 7 p.m.
August 16: The Merry Wives of Windsor – CSU Dominguez Hills in Carons at 7 p.m.
August 17: The Winter’s Tale – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
August 18: The Merry Wives of Windsor – Point Fermin Park in San Pedro at 8 p.m.
Visit the Shakespeare by the Sea calendar page for more details on each of the locations and any changes to the schedule.
Even More Free Summer Shakespeare
Another option for free Shakespeare is at The LA SummerFEST presented by the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival.
This year, Othello will be performed on July 21, 23, 28, 30 and August 11-13. Each show begins at 8 p.m. Though admission and parking are free, the group suggests a donation of $10.
Schedule provided by We Like LA.