We asked our Twitter followers to share their favorite stories from outdoor Shakespeare performances: incredible actors, unexpected animal visitors, dramatic weather events, and more. Tell us your story using #SummerShakesMemories.
Long ago. Washington monument grounds. Night show. Hamlet first scene on the battlements. Plane flies in low right after “Peace, break thee off! Look where it comes again!”
— Deborah Doyle (@Zorrah) June 28, 2019
Much Ado with the boys returning home from WWII. Loud, low flying plane buzzes us. An annoyed Dogberry (completely impromptu), shouts "AIR RAID" and the whole Night Watch (also completely impromptu) hits the deck or scatters completely. Conrad and Boraccio stand, stunned.
— Nathan Metcalf (@NateMetcalf) July 25, 2019
In Ottawa, @bearandcompany’s Romeo and Juliet few years back: Juliet was lying dead, & cat wanders in, about to sit right on her. The actor was deathly allergic to cats. Also, since her eyes were closed, had no idea why everyone was laughing. The Friar had to scoop up the cat.
— Jay Baltz (@jaybaltz) July 1, 2019
There was once a vicious duck fight in front of the stage during a production of Coriolanus I was stage managing for Upstate Shakespeare Festival.
— Emily Lathrop (@ERLathrop) June 25, 2019
I saw an outdoor production of The Tempest in Central Park and it started right after a really intense thunderstorm — the references to the recent storm drew similar nervous laughter #SummerShakesMemories
— Alex Armstrong (@AlexJArmstrong) July 2, 2019
Hello, yes, I have a couple outdoor Shakespeare stories to share with you, starting with "Squirrel Butt Romeo". #SummerShakesMemories https://t.co/egoY6yKDFp
— Good Tickle Brain (@GoodTickleBrain) July 2, 2019
This happened last week.I’m Oberon in MSND, in a walled garden which is part of a public park. I’m on the rampart looking down on the quarreling Lovers, when I’m joined by a guy in running gear, who has interrupted his run to see what’s going on.#SummerShakesMemories
— michael mc hugh (@michaelmc_hugh) June 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/MysticCindi/status/1144474064397848581
I took my 4 month old on stage at the end of Act IV of AMND as The Indian Boy. The audience response was visceral. We could have started a whole new play at that point and the audience would have stayed with us.
— mac Domhnaill (@xmacdonald) July 19, 2019
