Brown Box Theatre Project returns for a seventh year of Free Outdoor Shakespeare with their largest and most ambitious production yet. The troupe's much-anticipated presentation of Hamlet will enjoy a three-week tour to seven outdoor venues throughout Greater Boston August 11-27.
Brown Box's annual tradition will continue the company's mission of delivering professional, impactful theatre directly to communities in an ongoing effort to transform the way theatre is created and consumed. "We want to tackle the problems facing the arts in creative and constructive ways," explains Artistic Director Kyler Taustin. "In a time when space is a major obstacle for virtually every company in Boston, we want to embrace this challenge as a way to reimagine what the theatre scene can look like." The company seeks to use performance as a way to reach new communities, share diverse stories, and spark conversation. "Theatre shouldn't exist in a bubble," says Taustin. "Geography and cost should not exclude people from cultural opportunities."
In keeping with this model, Hamlet will serve as the inaugural production for the newly revitalized Christian Herter Park, marking a significant victory for accessible theatre and creative spaces in the city. Following their opening weekend in Allston, the production will tour throughout Greater Boston to transform green spaces in Fort Point, Somerville, Fall River, and beyond into performance venues before traveling south to the Delmarva Peninsula.
Hamlet, Shakespeare's pivotal work, delves deep into the recesses of human consciousness in a raw and unforgiving examination of a treacherous political landscape and one Prince's struggle with the weighty consequences of action, inaction, pain, numbness, and the ever-terrifying unknown. Murder, treason, intrigue, and betrayal culminate to form this harrowing and timeless theatrical masterpiece.
All Hamlet performances are free, outdoors, and open to all audiences.
IF YOU GO:
7th Annual Free Shakespeare
HAMLET
Brown Box Theatre Project
Directed by Kyler Taustin
FEATURING:
Jesse Garlick as Hamlet
Gigi Watson as Ophelia
Cam Torres as Claudius
Jade Guerra as Gertrude
Ben Heath as Horatio
James Wechsler as Polonius
Felix Teich as Laertes
Emily Elmore as Rosencrantz
Nick Osborne as Guildenstern
Spencer Parli Tew as Player King/Ghost/Osric
Margaret Clark as Player Queen/Marcellus/Gravedigger
Produced by Hannah Pryfogle and Alex Lonati
Stage Managed by Erica Paige Brown
Production Managed by Jeremy Stein
Technical Direction by Matthew Williams
Lighting Design by Joey Guthman
Costume Design by Chelsea Kerl
Sound Design by Elizabeth Cahill
Properties Design by Megan Kinneen
Fight Choreography by Ben Heath
Audio Engineering by Katie Jost
PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS AND TIME:
August 11-13 - Christian Herter Park | 1175 Soldiers Field Road, Allston, MA 02134
Friday, August 18 - Waterfront Plaza at Atlantic Wharf | 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
Saturday, August 19 - Fall River Heritage Park | 200 Davol Street, Fall River, MA 02720
Sunday, August 20 - Pilgrim Memorial State Park | 79 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360
Thursday, August 24 - Borderland State Park | 259 Massapoag Avenue, North Easton, MA 02356
Friday, August 25 - Baxter Park Amphitheater at Assembly Row | Somerville, MA 02145
Saturday, August 26 - Hopkinton Center for the Arts | 98 Hayden Rowe Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748
Sunday, August 27 - Waterfront Plaza at Atlantic Wharf | 290 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
All performances begin at 7:30pm. All performances are FREE and open to all audiences. No reservations required.
Hamlet will be performed outdoors and seating is on the lawn. For your comfort, feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chair. For rain locations and more information, visit www.brownboxtheatre.org.
Brown Box Theatre Project's mission is to bring high-quality theatre to communities that otherwise lack access to the performing arts. The constant goal in all their programming is to bring down barriers that separate potential audiences from live theatre and to introduce the performing arts to the widest audience possible.
Videos