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

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is a testament to the magic of live theatre, reaching audiences in unexpected ways; whether they are performing in an under-served community, making Shakespeare relatable to a teenager, or sparking an interest in the arts in a child.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is immensely proud of its Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program. A mobile theatre centered around a pickup truck “set,” the production tours to schools, libraries and community centers across the Denver area. “There’s something beautiful in the accessibility of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot,” said DCPA Executive Director of Education & Community Engagement and Director of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot Allison Watrous. “These audiences come to see us in a place that’s an everyday space, but it’s instantly transformed into a creative space.” The program celebrated 700 performances on April 2, 2024 – an incredible milestone that marked reaching over 83,000 individuals since Shakespeare in the Parking Lot’s inception in 2015.

The cast of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

Sharing live theatre is a collective passion among the entire cast, comprised of local professional actors and teaching artists. For the 2024 Spring Tour, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is presenting Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Macbeth. Cast member Grant Bowman is inspired by returning to “the roots of Shakespeare,” he said. “There’s something special about speaking the words of these plays outdoors, in the open air, just as they would have done in Shakespeare’s time.”

The accessibility of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot lends itself to student participation when the production visits Denver schools. The cast is accustomed to hearing laughter and cheers of excitement, or outcries during dramatic moments. After the in-school performances, interactive workshops are led by the Shakespeare in the Parking Lot team. These workshops are intended to get students involved, to break down the concepts of the play, and to ignite a spark in each student.

Justin Walvoord and Chloe McLeod in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by John Moore

Cast member Iliana Barron explained why accessible theatre is so important to both her and the students. “A lot of these kids have never seen theatre, especially something like Shakespeare. It’s inspiring to hear them say, ‘I never thought I would get to see something like this.’ Or they’re surprised to see a woman like me, a woman of color, in a role like Juliet. That’s something I would have wanted to see when I was young.”

However, outdoor theatre isn’t always sunshine and rainbows – literally. There are so many variables that can make or break a performance, from stormy weather to a loud motorcycle passing by. Program Manager Justin Walvoord even said of community performances that “somebody can unintentionally walk through the performance space, and they become part of the show for a moment!”

The cast of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

In theatre, especially something like Shakespeare, hearing the words is incredibly important. Stuart Barr, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot’s Technical Director and Stage Manager, explained that he’s constantly adjusting the microphones during a performance so that audiences can always hear and understand the show. Even something that sounds so simple, like performing during a sunny – but windy – autumn day can require additional focus and support from the technical team.

Active listening plays an integral role for the technical team as well as the cast, which actor Shannon Altner says helps hone her skills. “Taking audience reactions and what’s going on in the environment in stride helps me focus on my acting, which I think also shows our audience what it means to perform,” she explained. Walvoord confirmed her statement by sharing, “The trick is to take what’s going on in the environment and integrate it into the story, though there are definitely more challenging moments than others.”

Educators can visit the Shakespeare in the Parking Lot website to learn more about scheduling a performance and workshop for their school. In addition, community performances will take place throughout the spring. These performances are free, open to the public, and located across the Denver-metro area.