Veteran Montana actor John Hosking plays King Lear in Montana Shakespeare in the Parks' first-ever production of the tragedy.
In celebration of their 50th anniversary season, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks visits towns across Montana and beyond with performances the company’s first-ever production of King Lear and a reprise of Twelfth Night.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be back on the road performing for audiences and inspiring everyone with a passion for Shakespeare’s greatest works,” says Executive Artistic Director Kevin Asselin. “It’s going to be a remarkable 50th season, where audiences can discover these magical tales of tragedy and love for themselves.”
This summer, the company will travel nearly 7,000 miles sharing Shakespeare’s extraordinary tragedy, King Lear, starring veteran Montana actor John Hosking as Lear, and the Bard’s delightful love triangle, Twelfth Night, with audiences throughout Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington state. All performances are offered free to audiences in local parks and public spaces.
“To be celebrating 50 seasons of amazing performances is truly a special accomplishment,” writes Asselin. “Our greatest pleasure comes from knowing that audiences can discover the magic of Shakespeare, where universal truths of mankind are united through stories that stretch beyond space and time.”
He hopes, too, that in recognizing the eternal nature of the human condition in stories written more than four centuries ago, spectators “may just unearth reflections of themselves and their own humanity.”
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is an outreach program of Montana State University’s College of Arts and Architecture. It was founded on the firm belief that Shakespeare belongs to everyone, the accomplished company of performers and staff work tirelessly to connect people, communities, and the arts, as they spread messages of unity and understanding.
Born from aspirations to bring the timeless tales of William Shakespeare directly to rural and under-served communities, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has been enriching the lives of people in Montana, and beyond, for 50 seasons. This semi-centennial season is in collaboration with Sal and Carol G. Lalani and in memory of Shane G. Lalani.
The public is invited to experience Montana Shakespeare in the Parks under the welcoming blue skies of the West and relish in world-class performances that are free and friendly to all, and, for all time.