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Shakespeare Program

In 1994, Rochester Community Players started a Shakespeare Program at the New Life Presbyterian Church on Monroe Avenue with a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as part of its regular season of plays. (Twelfth Night was also the first play by Shakespeare produced by RCP in 1936.) Since July 1997, RCP has presented a free Shakespeare in the Park summer production co-sponsored by the Monroe County Parks Department at the Highland Park Bowl. Plays by Shakespeare have also been performed as part of the Rochester Community Players seasons at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC) on Atlantic Avenue in Rochester, N.Y., since 2010.

Previous Productions

Winter 2024

The Winter’s Tale postcard

The Winter’s Tale

MuCCC

February 2-10, 2024

Directed by David Kensek

Summer 2023

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Highland Park Bowl

July 13 – 29, 2023

Directed by Jonathan Lowery

https://www.roccitynews.com/arts-entertainment/merry-wives-of-windsor-mixes-shakespeare-in-the-park-with-80s-nostalgia-16399353

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/around-town/rochester-community-players-present-shakespeare-in-the-park/

Winter 2023

Twelfth Night
MuCCC
February 3 – 12, 2022
Directed by John Jaeger

Summer 2022

Antony & Cleopatra
Highland Bowl
July 2022
Directed by Carl del Buono

Fall 2021

Much Ado About Nothing
MuCCC
October 2021
Directed by Carl del Buono

Summer 2021

The Tempest
Highland Bowl
July 2021
Directed by Luane Davis Haggerty

Fall 2019

The Comedy of Errors at MuCCC
November 2019
Directed by John Gaehring

Summer 2019

Macbeth at Highland Bowl
July 2019
Directed by Jean Gordon Ryon

Summer 2018

The Two Gentlemen of Verona
July 2018 at Highland Bowl
Directed by Virginia Monte

The Two Gentlemen of Verona @ the Highland Bowl was nominated for “Best Local Theater Production of 2018 (at a Community Space)” in the Best of Rochester Awards.

Fall 2017

Coriolanus

Coriolanus
November 10–18, 2017 at MuCCC
Directed by John Jaeger

Summer 2017

As You Like It
As You Like It

July 14–29, 2017 at Highland Bowl
Directed by Maria Scipione

As You Like It @ the Highland Bowl was named “Best Local Theater Production of 2017 (at a Community Space)” in the Best of Rochester Awards.

Fall 2016

Hamlet + R&G

Hamlet (directed by Peter Scribner) in repertory with
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard (directed by Jean Gordon Ryon)

October 28–November 19, 2016 at MuCCC

Review in Rochester City Newspaper.

Summer 2016

Romeo & Juliet Poster
Romeo & Juliet

July 15–30, 2016 at Highland Bowl
Directed by Virginia Monte
Co-produced with WallByrd Theatre Co

Romeo & Juliet @ the Highland Bowl was named “Best Local Theater Production of 2016 (at a Community Space)” in the Best of Rochester Awards.

Spring 2016

All’s Well That Ends Well
April 8–23, 2016 at MuCCC
Directed by Dr. Cece McFarland

Fall 2015

Henry V
November 2015 at MuCCC
Directed by Ken Dauer

Summer 2015

Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2
July 2015 at Highland Bowl
Directed by Brad Craddock and Stephanie Roosa

Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 @ the Highland Park Bowl was named “Best Local Theater Production of 2015 (Non-Musical at a community space)” in the Best of Rochester Awards.

Spring 2015

Richard II
April 2015 at MuCCC
Directed by Peter Scribner

Fall 2014

King Lear
November 2015 at MuCCC
Directed by John Jaeger

Summer 2014

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
July 2014 at Highland Bowl
Directed by Luane Davis Haggerty

Read the preview from Rochester City Newspaper.
Read the review from playshakespeare.com.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream @ the Highland Bowl was named “Best Local Theatrical Production of 2014” in the Best of Rochester Awards.

Spring 2014

The Winter’s Tale
April 2014 at MuCCC
Directed by Virginia Monte

Read the review from Rochester City Newspaper.

Fall 2013

Julius Caesar
November 2013 at MuCCC
Directed by Peter Scribner

Read the review from Rochester City Newspaper.

Summer 2013

Twelfth Night
July 2013 at MuCCC
Directed by Brad Craddock

Read the review from Rochester City Newspaper.