Originally published in 2022. Updated in 2025.

DCPA Education’s Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program is returning for its twelfth season. This fall, three Shakespeare productions will go on tour throughout the community and visit area schools. And these aren’t your typical performances. Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is exactly what it sounds like — stripped-down, abridged versions of Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth centered around a pickup truck “set” in the middle of a parking lot.

Shakespeare can be confusing for students half-heartedly reading a script in English class. “Thee” and “thou” can often sound like a foreign language. To make theatre not only accessible, but also exciting, the productions travel to area schools and facilitate interactive workshops with students. These workshops break down elements of the plays and transform them into modern day situations, relating to issues students face every day such as peer pressure and loyalty. By bringing these plays to life and engaging the students in discussion, debate, and games, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is an invaluable resource for area educators.  

From September 6 through October 4, the program will go on tour throughout the community. This season, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will be visiting five community partners. Attend a performance near you this fall! The tour will visit Golden, Erie, Lafayette, Thornton, and Westminster. These performances are free and open to the public. Visit our website for more details coming soon. 

You can also download an audio version of Romeo and Juliet and watch a behind-the-scenes video of the recording studio on our website. Dive into this immersive audio recording and get hooked on Shakespeare! 

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Morgridge Family Foundation, UCHealth, Genesee Mountain Foundation, and the Riverfront Park Community Foundation. Midwest.