Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photo by McLeod9 Creative

The idea for Shakespeare in the Parking Lot came from teachers who wanted to bring to life the Bard’s beautiful plays to help students truly understand why the works have been so important for centuries.

“It is meant as a dramatic text and meant to be performed rather than reading it like a novel,” said Allison Watrous, Executive Director of DCPA Education & Community Engagement.

In 2015 Watrous had a wild idea to start having performances in public spaces, namely, parking lots. After all, she said, creativity isn’t bound to brick-and-mortar locations.

“Now it happens everywhere, and we bring it to schools directly so more students can enjoy it this way,” she said, adding each performance is an abridged rendition of either Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Macbeth. 

“I just wanted to say thank you again for this wonderful opportunity, the kids loved it and were talking about it all day,” a Denver Public School middle school teacher wrote to the DCPA. “This was once again the experience of a lifetime for many of our kids and you have inspired a new kind of love for Shakespeare in your viewers.”

Directed by Watrous, the show travels to other venues too, from libraries to recreation centers to parks and more. Through the generosity of donors, the plays are provided free to the community. Plus, the funds provided the means to buy a prop truck, which gets pulled by a bigger truck to each location. The actors crawl all over it, popping inside, balancing on the roof, and using it as a dramatic backdrop.

The troupe is made up of eight players who do all the roles, often gender-bending the way the original actors in William Shakespeare’s day did. Between in-school and community performances, they often perform six days a week each fall and spring. But already the actors, some who have been a part of the event since the beginning, are ready for next season.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot returns this fall with free performances every Saturday September 7 through October 12. For locations, visit denvercenter.org/community.