2023 Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival
One of Seattle’s best summer entertainments will take place in Volunteer Park July 8th and 9th: The Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival, which features many the outdoor touring shows in the Puget Sound area, including Shakespeare shows by Wooden “O”/Seattle Shakespeare Company, Greenstage, Mt. Vernon’s Shakespeare Northwest, Last Leaf Productions and CSZ Seattle.
The full-length Shakespeare plays offered are: The Tempest, The Taming of the Shrew, Henry VI, pt 1, and Romeo & Juliet. Shorter versions of The Comedy of Errors and Cymeline, called “Backyard Bard” are also on the roster, as well as various permutations of Shakespeare which look amusing.
The Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival began in 2001 when GreenStage, Theater Schmeater, and Seattle Shakespeare’s Wooden O joined forces to bring a full weekend of live theatre to Volunteer Park in Seattle. Since then the festival has grown to include up to three stages and eighteen performances from several local theater companies.
The 2023 Festival is a bit leaner than in past years. The pandemic hit theater companies hard, and there are fewer companies offering touring shows this summer. Volunteer Park has a new amphitheater! This project has been in the works for several years, and was finished just in time for Last year’s Festival!
Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival. Volunteer Park 1247 15th Ave E, Capitol Hill Seattle, WA 98112, Parking is difficult. Take Sound Transit to Capitol Hill stop, exit to E. John and pick up the #10 bus, which stops at the corner of E. Prospect and 15th, across the street from the park. All the shows are free, but the actors pass the hat afterwards.
Info: https://greenstage.org/sotf/
2023 Schedule
Saturday, July 8
AMPHITHEATRE STAGE
2:00 pm – WOODEN O
The Tempest – 2 hours
5:00 pm – LAST LEAF PRODUCTIONS
The Taming of the Shrew– 60 minutes
7:00 pm – GREENSTAGE
Romeo and Juliet – 2 hours
CONSERVATORY LAWN
12:00pm – DACHA THEATRE
Sometimes the Sun, Sometimes the Sea – 90 minutes
4:30 pm – CSZ SEATTLE
Sound & Fury: An Improvised Shakespearience – 90 minutes
Sunday, July 9
AMPHITHEATRE STAGE
2:00 pm – GREENSTAGE
Henry VI, part 1 – 2 hours
5:00 pm – SHAKESPEARE NORTHWEST
Tales from Billy the Bard – 60 minutes
7:00 pm – WOODEN O
The Tempest– 2 hours
CONSERVATORY LAWN
1:00pm – PENGUIN PRODUCTIONS
Bonfire – 60 minutes
4:00 pm – GREENSTAGE BACKYARD BARD
Comedy of Errors – 60 minutes
5:15 pm – GREENSTAGE BACKYARD BARD
Cymbeline – 60 minutes