Shakespeare in the Park 2026
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Directed by Jason Spelbring
Thursdays-Sundays, August 20-September 20
and Labor Day Monday, September 7
The Bandshell at Centennial Park
(on the 25th Avenue side of the park near the walking path)
ASL Interpreted Performance - TBD
Nightly Schedule:
5:15 pm - Gates Open
5:30 pm - Insight Lecture Series
6:00 pm - Pre-Show Concert Series
7:00 pm - Performance of A Midsummer NIght’s Dream
Cost: Pay-What-You-Will ($20 suggested donation/person)
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
The Bard is back at the historic bandshell in Centennial Park! Magic, mischief, and moonlight fill the Athenian forest in this joyful tangle of love, laughter, and theatrical mayhem. When mischievous fairies meddle with runaway lovers and an unsuspecting troupe of amateur actors, dreams blur with reality and anything can happen. Full of wonder, whimsy, and enchantment, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Shakespeare at his most playful. This production is sure to delight audiences of all ages!
Get up-to-the-minute updates on weather and show information on our social media channels:
Plan Your Evening at Shakespeare in the Park
Insight Lecture Series
Want to learn more about A Midsummer Night’s Dream before watching the performance? Join local scholars and luminaries at 5:30 pm for a free, engaging 30-minute deep dive into the play’s characters, themes, and more.
Pre-Show Concert Series
Arrive early for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and enjoy our pre-show concert series! Grab a great spot on the lawn and experience live entertainment starting at 6:00 pm featuring a diverse slate of local artists.
Food Trucks
A rotating lineup of Nashville’s favorite food trucks will be on-site each night serving up delicious bites before the show. And don’t forget our merch tent with Moosehead Kettle Corn!
Seating Options
PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL
Bring your own blanket or chair and claim a spot in our general admission areas. Limited bleacher seating is also available on a first-come, first-serve basis. FREE - suggested donation $20/person.
PRO TIP: Come early to enjoy our free Insight Lecture Series and Pre-Show Concert to ensure the best seats!
GROUNDLING SEATING
A nod to the original Groundlings who stood closest to the stage at Shakespeare’s Globe, these reserved seats put you right in the heart of the action with a low-profile chair (just 5" off the ground) in the last row of the blanket section. $35/person – Includes a reserved low chair.
NOBLE SEATING
Noble Seats include a reserved seat in the reserved seating section behind the blanket area, complete with a comfortable camp chair with tray table. No need to bring a thing! $50/person – reserved chair with tray in the reserved seating section.
ROYAL PACKAGES
Feel like royalty with the best seats in the house! Royal Packages include a reserved seat in the front rows of the reserved seating section, premium reserved parking, a gourmet picnic boxed dinner, and a shoutout from the stage for your birthday, anniversary, or special occasion (just let us know!). $100/person – Includes premium reserved seating, dinner, reserved parking, and optional onstage shout-out.
GROUNDLING SEATING - low profile chair (appx. 5” off the ground)
NOBLE AND ROYAL SEATING - camp chair with side tray
Accessible seating and assistive listening devices are available. For more information and accommodations, please contact Finance and Operations Director Robert Marigza-Yeo at robert@nashvilleshakes.org, or by calling 615-255-2273.
Pay-What-You-Will (or As You Like It)
Since our first year performing in the park in 1988, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival has committed to providing accessible arts experiences by championing the pay-what-you-will model. Admission is free, but if you’re able, we invite you to donate and help keep the magic alive:
Donate $20 per person (suggested amount) supports our mission to make theatre accessible, educational, and fun for all.
Donate $30 per person says thanks family-friendly fun.
Donate $40 per person helps pay the 40+ local artists and technicians who bring the show to life.
Donate of $50 per person pays it forward so someone else can attend for free.
Pay-what-you-will is about community. We trust you to give what you can, and every dollar helps ensure the Festival remains open to all. Every dollar makes a difference!
PRO TIP! Donate online before the show for quicker entry. Just show your receipt at the gate!
Thank you to our sponsors!
SEASON SPONSORS
EVENT SPONSOR
INSIGHT LECTURE SERIES SPONSOR
ARTS ACCESS SPONSORS
IN-KIND SPONSOR
Contact Executive Director Isabel Tipton-Krispin for sponsorship and ad opportunities: isabel@nashvilleshakes.org.