This week we feature Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Summer Shakespeare performances of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” happening Thursdays through Sundays from August 21 to September 21 on The Yard at OneCity. The Nashville Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1988 by a group of actors who wanted to do Shakespeare free-of-charge in Centennial Park. Growing over the last 37 years to be what it is today, the mission of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival is to educate and entertain the Mid-South community through professional theatrical experiences.
“Our name is the Nashville Shakespeare Festival and we try to make it festive,” Executive Director Isabel Tipton-Krispin said. “We tried to bring in as many people as possible and our goal is to make the art form as accessible as possible. That’s why we’ve committed to pay what you will. Our suggested donation is $10, but people do nothing. People do $10. People do $50 dollars, whatever is within their means. And they can enjoy a night of fun, learning, music, theater all in one with their entire family. It’s been great to able to do that with so many generations of Nashvillians.”
“This year we will be doing The Merry Wives of Windsor, not the most popular Shakespeare play, but absolutely hilarious. “It’s centered on this knight named Falstaff, who’s kind of just a bumbling, drunk old guy about the town. He thinks he can swindle two rich wives out of their money by sending them identical love letters. The wives pretty quickly realize what he’s up to and proceed to play pranks on him throughout the show. It’s a awesome show because it centers on these two women being witty and smart. It really centers friendship, sisterhood, and teaching men a few good lessons along the way. Along with the show, every night we have pre-show lectures from local scholars and luminaries. Before every performance at we invite not only musicians, but improv groups, Opera On Wheels, you name it, to come perform. It’s a full night of entertainment plus food trucks and all of the restaurants around One City as well.”
Additional event opportunities in the next week:
Thursday night (August 21), Backyard Sessions curated by WNXP is at the Bobby Hotel rooftop lounge featuring Samara Cyn, Isaia Huron and Tim Gent. Also on Thursday at The Blue Room, Nashville band Arts Fishing Club performs, and Hiatus Kaiyote plays at Brooklyn Bowl. Back at the Blue Room Friday (August 22) & Saturday (August 23), former WNXP Nashville Artist of the Month Bully performs. Also on Saturday, Yo Gabba Gabba is at the Pinnacle, and Tuesday (August 26) Fitz and the Tantrums performs at the Ryman.
