Shakespearean comedy and tragedy, fairy-tale fantasy and whodunit intrigue will provide al fresco entertainment as Actors’ Theatre of Columbus begins its summer season in Schiller Park.
Set under the evening sky, the season will open May 21 with “The Taming of the Shrew.” The play confronts issues of marriage, gender and social hierarchy with wit, slapstick and rapid-fire wordplay.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. May 21-24, May 28-31, June 4-7, and June 11-14 in the Schiller Park Amphitheatre, 1000 City Park Ave.
Bringing blankets and lawn chairs is recommended − and don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray. Guests are also welcome to bring picnic meals.
Actors’ Theatre will continue the season with “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a Tony Award-winning play with music that serves as a prequel to “Peter Pan.” Shows will be at 8 p.m. June 18-21, June 25-28, July 2, July 5, and July 9-12.
“Othello” will put a unique spin on the tragedy, transporting audiences to an America caught between post-Korean War hope and the impending anxieties of the Vietnam War. Performances will be at 8 p.m. July 16-19, July 23-26, July 30-31, Aug. 1-2, and Aug. 6-9.
Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” will be staged in honor of the 50th anniversary of the author’s death. Ten strangers in a mansion start dying one by one. Will anyone survive? Find out at 8 p.m. Aug. 13-16, Aug. 20-23, Aug. 27-30, and Sept. 3-5.
Select evenings will feature preshow performances by students of the company’s Globe School, which offers training at every level in acting, improv, sketch comedy, play creation, and more.
All performances are free. Select seating options, including blankets, recliners, and loungers, can be reserved in advance for $20-$25. (theactorstheatre.org/seasons/2026)
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Contact features and entertainment reporter Belinda M. Paschal at bpaschal@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Actors’ Theatre of Columbus to open season with ‘Taming of the Shrew’
Reporting by Belinda M. Paschal, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
