Chloe McLeod in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

For the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, community connection is central to its mission. That commitment is vividly realized through Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, a program designed to bring free, high‑quality theatre directly into neighborhoods across the metro area. Performed outdoors in everyday public spaces, these lively productions make Shakespeare accessible, informal, and welcoming to audiences of all ages.

Launched in 2014/15, the program began as a high‑school initiative but quickly grew into a beloved resource across the Denver metro area. Its hallmark is accessibility: performances take place in parking lots, plazas, libraries, and parks, using a simple pickup truck “set” that allows the cast to bring Shakespearean classics to audiences who may not otherwise encounter live theatre. “There’s something beautiful in the accessibility of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot,” said Allison Watrous, DCPA Executive Director of Education & Community Engagement, noting how ordinary spaces become creative gathering points for all ages.

This community focus is reflected in the program’s reach. Last season alone, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot completed 80 school performances for nearly 13,000 students and nine free community performances serving more than 1,100 individuals — a demonstration of both widespread enthusiasm and the strong demand for high‑quality cultural programming. This expanded community access is supported by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which helps broaden access to the arts.

The spring 2026 tour continues this mission with a new round of free Saturday performances across the region. Audiences can enjoy A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Romeo and Juliet at four locations throughout the area.

Each performance, running approximately 90 minutes, blends professional acting with nimble stagecraft on and around a pickup truck set.

As the program enters its twelfth year, it has already reached more than 111,000 people in schools and public settings, reinforcing DCPA’s vision of theatre as a shared civic experience. This spring, Denver‑area residents are once again invited to gather, connect, and enjoy Shakespeare the way it was meant to be: together.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) NewsCenter is the organization’s editorial platform for stories, announcements, interviews, and coverage of theatre and cultural programming in Colorado. We are committed to producing accurate, trustworthy, clearly sourced journalism that reflects our mission and serves our community.