Outdoor plays in Schiller Park with Actors’ Theatre of Columbus

Actors’ Theatre of Columbus returns this Summer with their outdoor classic theatre under the stars in German Village’s Schiller Park.

The theme for the 42nd anniversary season of Shakespeare in the Park is “Telling Tales”. 

The season celebrates the stories that we share and the ways we share them. Myths, legends, lies, fairy tales and family folklore blend to magnify the truths that make us truly human. “Telling Tales” promises to be a season of romance, comedy, love, and truth.

photo by Dave Koczur

Shakespeare in the Park at Schiller Park

Thursdays through Sundays @ 8pm
Schiller Park (German Village), Amphitheatre Stage

Theatre in the Park with Actors’ Theatre of Columbus Show Schedule

BEAUTY & THE BEAST by Lucy Kirkwood

Thursdays – Sundays, May 23 – June 16, 2024

Devised by Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Philip J. Hickman

A tale as old as time, retold with a magical new spin. Lucy Kirkwood’s Beauty & the Beast is full of fairy tale romance, comedy, and enchantment. The wickedly charismatic Man in Pink presents his version of events, casting a spell over Beauty, her cursed Beast, and a single red rose. Add a magical Rabbit and a personal assistant who wants to sing and presto! *

*This is not the version told by a Certain Mouse.

Samuel Bowen Partridge, Colleen Underwood and Ogechi Mgbuden (left to
right) for the Actors’ Theatre of Columbus production of Beauty and the Beast (photo credit: Jabari Johnson).

CHICKEN & BISCUITS by Douglas Lyons

Thursdays-Sundays, June 20 – July 14, 2024

Directed by Alan Tyson

Chicken & Biscuits by Douglas Lyons debuted on Broadway in 2021. This hilarious family comedy about a funeral is the story of two sisters saying farewell to their father. They try to lay their own conflicts to rest while family secrets come to light and their kids try to let their own identities emerge at last. Funny, warm, and joyful, Chicken & Biscuits is sure to be a perfect show for a picnic at the park.

image: Actors Theatre

TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare

Thursdays-Sundays, July 18 – August 11, 2024

Directed by Nina Martin and Rowan Winterwood

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, or What You Will is the Bard’s wild comedy of mistaken identity, lovesick servants, and literature’s most famous stocking-centered revenge plot. Orsino is in love with Olivia, who is in love with Cesario, who is really Viola in disguise, who is in love with Orsino! Meanwhile a drunken knight, madcap servants, and a wise fool negotiate their own romances and revenges.

AN ILIAD by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare

Thursdays-Sundays, August 15 – September 1, 2024

Directed by Cat McAlpine

An Iliad is Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s riveting retelling of Homer’s famous epic about war, cycles of violence, and what it means to change the narrative. Told by multiple poets and muses, this production of An Iliad will bring together the ancient and modern to explore the heart of humanity and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Attending Actors’ Theatre of Columbus performances

Outdoor summer shows are free and open to the public. Make a donation to ensure to the continued success of Actors’ Theatre. Suggested levels of donation and ways to donate are available on the website. 

Reserved section zero-gravity chairs (with cupholder and headrest) are $25, front section ATC logo blankets (that you can keep after the show!) are $25, and reserved ground-level loungers (with back support) are $20. 

Pack a picnic, bring your family or friends, and enjoy the evening! 

The summer performances are under the stars (dress accordingly), and occasionally, under adverse weather conditions. The decision to cancel a performance is not made until 7:30 pm and will be posted on the website and Facebook page.

Looking for more outdoor fun and entertainment?