Richmond Shakespeare Festival – May 14 at Elstro

Food trucks and free theater are planned on two upcoming Thursdays in a local park.

Comedy, betrayal, romance and forgiveness are common themes in many of today’s movies and TV shows. Some of their writers have been inspired by William Shakespeare.

Richmond Shakespeare Festival is offering Shakespeare in the Park performed by regional touring companies in May and August at Jack Elstro Plaza, 47 N. Sixth St., Richmond. The rain location is across the street at Morrisson-Reeves Library.

For the first production, Kentucky Shakespeare will perform “The Tempest” at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14.

Audiences are asked to bring a chair or blanket. The play runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission.

Radford’s Meat Market and Deli, The Cordial Cork, and Downtown Deli and Catering Company are expected to sell meals, beverages and snacks at 5:30 p.m. 

Those watching “The Tempest” will see Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, use magic to create a storm (tempest) and shipwreck his traitorous enemies on his island. Through his spirit-servant Ariel, Prospero manipulates the survivors, leading to themes of betrayal, romance and ultimately forgiveness and mercy.

Supporters covering the production’s costs include the city of Richmond’s Parks and Recreation, Mary Ann Hanes, Doxpop Charitable Giving Fund at Wayne County Foundation, Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau, and additional donors.

Richmond Shakespeare Festival next offers the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, on Elstro Plaza.