No available showtimes found
William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing FREE Shakespeare in the Park 2026
July 14 - September 6, 2026
The war for America’s independence has just been declared in this production set in 1776, but the battle of the sexes has just begun. Much Ado About Nothing follows two sparring skeptics, Beatrice and Benedick, whose witty war of words masks something far more tender. Packed with mistaken identities, overheard conversations, and joyful chaos, this beloved classic is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comedies. Bring a blanket, bring a friend, and enjoy a lively, laughter-filled evening of FREE Shakespeare in the Park.
Admission to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Shakespeare in the Park Tour is free and open to the public. There are no ticket or RSVPs required and all performances are general admission. For questions regarding a specific location's policies on outside food and drink, accessibility, etc. please contact the venue directly or reach out to our Box Office for assistance.
Click your county below to see when Cincy Shakes will be performing near you:
Ohio
West Chester, OH
Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 PM
West Chester Township
Keehner Park
7211 Barret Rd.
West Chester, OH 45069
Fairfield, OH
Friday, July 31 at 7:00 PM
City of Fairfield Park & Recreation
Village Green Park
301 Wessel Dr.
Fairfield, OH 45014
Oxford, OH
Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 PM
Oxford Community Arts Center
Pavilion at Oxford Community Arts Center
10 S. College Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056
New Richmond
Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00 PM
City of New Richmond
John Hale Memorial Bandstand
116 Susanna Way, New Richmond, OH 45157
Village of Bethel
Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 PM
Village of Bethel
Burke Park
304 S. Ash St., Bethel, OH 45106
Mt. Adams
Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM
Eden Park
Seasongood Pavilion
1600 Art Museum Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45243
Opening Night!
OTR Rhinegeist Brewery
Saturday, July 18 at 7:00 PM
Rhinegeist Brewery
Rhinegeist Taproom
1910 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Braxton Brewery
Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Brewery Factory 52
4590 Beech St., Cincinnati, OH 45212
Wyoming, OH
Friday, July 24 at 7:00 PM
City of Wyoming
Wyoming Community Foundation
Village Green Performance Pavilion
412 Wyoming Ave.
Wyoming, OH, 45215
Washington Park
Sunday, July 26 at 7:00 PM
3CDC
Washington Park
1230 Elm St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
South Fairmount
Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00 PM
The Junkyard Community Center
The Junkyard
1683 Knox St.
Cincinnati, OH 45214
Evendale, OH
Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00 PM
Village of Evendale Cultural Arts Center
Evendale Founder’s Pavilion
10500 Reading Rd.
Evendale, OH 45241
Mt. Healthy, OH
Sunday, August 2 at 7:00 PM
City of Mt. Healthy
Ray Rissel Park Pavillion
1541 Hill Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45231
Glendale, OH
Sunday, August 9 at 7:00 PM
The Village of Glendale
Harry Whiting Brown Community Center
205 E. Sharon Rd.
Glendale, OH 45246
Mt. Storm Park
Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 PM
Mt. Storm Parks Advisory Council
700 Lafayette Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45220
Spring Grove
Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 PM
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
Rose Garden
4521 Spring Grove Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45232
Ault Park
Friday, August 14 at 7:00 PM
Cincinnati Parks
Ault Park
5090 Observatory Cir., Cincinnati, OH 45208
Braxton Brewery
Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Brewery Factory 52
4590 Beech St., Cincinnati, OH 45212
University of Cincinnati
Friday, August 21 at 7:00 PM
University of Cincinnati
Bearcat Commons
2700 Campus Way
Cincinnati, OH 45219
Mt. Washington
Sunday, August 23 at 7:00 PM
Stanbery Park Advisory Council
Stanbery Park
2221 Oxford Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45230
Summit Park Canopy
Friday, August 28 at 7:00 PM
Summit Park
4335 Glendale Milford Rd.
Blue Ash, OH 45242
Downtown Cincinnati
Saturday, August 29 at 1:00 PM
Cincinnati Public Library
Downtown Main Library
800 Vine St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Cincinnati Public Radio Broadcast
Saturday, August 29 at 7-8:00 PM
Cincinnati Public Radio Broadcast
LIVE ON AIR (WVXU)
More details to come!
Columbia Tusculum
Sunday, August 30 at 1:00 PM
The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum
Inside the Carnegie Center
3738 Eastern Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45226
Madeira, OH
Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM
City of Madeira
McDonald Commons Park
7502-7110 Dawson Rd.
Madeira OH 45243
Sign Language Interpreted
Mt. Adams
Sunday, September 6 at 7:00 PM
Eden Park
Seasongood Pavilion
1600 Art Museum Dr.
Cincinnati, OH 45243
Piqua, OH
Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 PM
The City of Piqua
Lock 9 Park
125 E. Water St.
Piqua, OH 45356
Centerville, OH
Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 PM
The City of Centerville
Stubbs Park
255 W Spring Valley Pike
Centerville, OH 45458
Deerfield Township
Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 PM
Deerfield Township Arts Alliance
Cottell Park
5847 Irwin Simpson Rd.
Mason, OH 45040
Morrow, OH
Friday, August 7 at 7:00 PM
Village of Morrow
Phegley Park
200 Center St., Morrow, OH 45150
Lebanon, OH
Sunday, August 16 at 7:00 PM
City of Lebanon
Bicentennial Park
7 Cherry St.
Lebanon, OH 45036
Kentucky
Burlington, KY
Thursday, July 30, at 7:00 PM
Boone County Parks and Recreation
Boone Woods Park
600 Veterans Ave.
Burlington, KY 41005
Braxton Union
Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Union
8901 US-42, Union, KY 41091
Grant County Park
Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 PM
Grant County Parks and Recreation
Bluegrass Barn
144 S Main St, Crittenden, KY 41030
Covington, KY (Devou)
Sunday, July 19 at 7:00 PM
City of Covington Parks & Recreation
Devou Park
1 Bandshell Blvd.
Covington, KY 41011
Ft. Mitchell, KY
Thursday, July 23 at 7:00 PM
Fort Mitchell
General Ormsby Mitchel Park
261 Grandview Dr.
Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017
Covington, KY
Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM
Kenton County Parks & Recreation
Middleton-Mills Park
3415 Mills Rd., Covington, KY 41015
Covington, KY (Devou)
Saturday, August 22 at 7:00 PM
City of Covington Parks & Recreation
Devou Park
1 Bandshell Blvd.
Covington, KY 41011
Sign Language Interpreted
Maysville, KY
Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 PM
Maysville/ Mason County Arts Commission
Limestone Landing Park
100 Limestone St.
Maysville, KY 41056
Indiana
Lawrenceburg, IN
Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00pm
Ivy Tech Community College
Civic Park
111 E High St.
Lawrenceburg, IN 47024
Brookville, IN
Friday, July 17 at 7:00 PM
Franklin County Arts Council
The Outdoor Pit at Third Place
734 Main St., Brookville, IN 47012
Richmond, IN
Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 PM
Richmond Shakespeare Festival
Elstro Plaza
47 N. 6th St.
Richmond, IN 47374
Tuesday, July 14 at 7:00 PM
Eden Park
Seasongood Pavilion
1600 Art Museum Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45243
Wednesday, July 15 at 7:00 PM
Grant County Parks and Recreation
Bluegrass Barn
144 S Main St, Crittenden, KY 41030
Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 PM
Deerfield Township Arts Alliance
Cottell Park
5847 Irwin Simpson Rd., Mason, OH 45040
Friday, July 17 at 7:00 PM
Franklin County Arts Council
The Outdoor Pit at Third Place
734 Main St., Brookville, IN 47012
Saturday, July 18 at 7:00 PM
Rhinegeist Brewery
Rhinegeist Taproom (Indoors)
1910 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Sunday, July 19 at 7:00 PM
City of Covington Parks & Recreation
Devou Park
1 Bandshell Blvd., Covington, KY 40111
Tuesday, July 21 at 7:00 PM
Ivy Tech Community College
Civic Park
111 E High St., Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47024
Wednesday, July 22 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Brewery Factory 52
4590 Beech St., Cincinnati, OH 45212
Thursday, July 23 at 7:00 PM
Fort Mitchell
General Ormsby Mitchel Park
261 Grandview Dr., Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017
Friday, July 24 at 7:00 PM
Wyoming Community Foundation (City of Wyoming)
Village Green Performance Pavilion
412 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, OH, 45215
Saturday, July 25 at 7:00 PM
West Chester Township
Keehner Park
7211 Barret Rd., West Chester, OH 45069
Sunday, July 26 at 7:00 PM
3CDC
Washington Park
1230 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Tuesday, July 28 at 7:00 PM
The Junkyard Community Center
The Junkyard
1683 Knox St., Cincinnati, OH 45214
Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00 PM
Village of Evendale Cultural Arts Center
Evendale Founder’s Pavilion
10500 Reading Rd., Evendale, OH 45241
Thursday, July 30 at 7:00 PM
Boone County Parks and Recreation
Boone Woods Park
600 Veterans Ave., Burlington, KY 41005
Friday, July 31 at 7:00 PM
City of Fairfield Park & Recreation
Village Green Park
301 Wessel Dr., Fairfield, OH 45014
Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 PM
The City of Centerville
Stubbs Park
255 W Spring Valley Pike, Centerville, OH 45458
Sunday, August 2 at 7:00 PM
City of Mt. Healthy
Ray Rissel Park Pavillion
1541 Hill Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45231
Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM
Kenton County Parks & Recreation
Middleton-Mills Park
3415 Mills Rd., Covington, KY 41015
Friday, August 7 at 7:00 PM
Village of Morrow
Phegley Park
200 Center St., Morrow, OH 45150
Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 PM
The City of Piqua
Lock 9 Piqua
125 E Water St., Piqua, OH 45356
Sunday, August 9 at 7:00 PM
The Village of Glendale
Harry Whiting Brown Community Center
205 E. Sharon Rd., Glendale, OH 45246
Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 PM
Mt. Storm Parks Advisory Council
Mt. Storm Park
700 Lafayette Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45220
Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Union
8901 US-42, Union, KY 41091
Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 PM
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum
Rose Garden
4521 Spring Grove Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45232
Friday, August 14, at 7:00 PM
Cincinnati Parks
Ault Park
5090 Observatory Cir., Cincinnati, OH 45208
Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 PM
Maysville/ Mason County Arts Commission
Limestone Landing Park
100 Limestone St., Maysville, KY 41056
Sunday, August 16 at 7:00 PM
City of Lebanon
Bicentennial Park
7 Cherry St., Lebanon, OH 45036
Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 PM
Braxton Brewery
Braxton Brewery Factory 52
4590 Beech St., Cincinnati, OH 45212
Friday, August 21, at 7:00 PM
University of Cincinnati
Bearcat Commons
2700 Campus Way, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Saturday, August 22 at 7:00 PM*
City of Covington Parks & Recreation
Devou Park
1 Bandshell Blvd., Covington, KY 40111
*Sign Language Interpreted
Sunday, August 23 at 7:00 PM
Stanbery Park Advisory Council
Stanbery Park
2221 Oxford Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45230
Tuesday, August 25 at 7:00 PM
Oxford Community Arts Center
Pavilion at Oxford Community Arts Center
10 S. College Ave., Oxford, OH 45056
Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 PM
Richmond Shakespeare Festival
Elstro Plaza
47 N. 6th St., Richmond, IN 47374
Friday, August 28 at 7:00 PM
Summit Park
Summit Park Canopy
4335 Glendale Milford Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242
Saturday, August 29 at 1:00 PM
Cincinnati Public Library
Downtown Main Library
800 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45202
Saturday, August 29, at 7-8:00 PM
Cincinnati Public Radio Broadcast
LIVE ON AIR (WVXU)
More details to come!
Sunday, August 30 at 1:00 PM
The Carnegie Center of Columbia Tusculum
The Carnegie Center (Indoors)
3738 Eastern Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45226
Tuesday, September 1, at 7:00pm
City of New Richmond
John Hale Memorial Bandstand
116 Susanna Way, New Richmond, OH 45157
Thursday, September 3 at 7:00 PM*
City of Madeira
McDonald Commons Park
7502-7110 Dawson Rd., Madeira OH 45243
*Sign Language Interpreted
Saturday, September 5 at 7:00 PM
Village of Bethel
Burke Park
304 S. Ash St., Bethel, OH 45106
Sunday, September 6 at 1:00 PM
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
2950 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45206
Sunday, September 6 at 7:00 PM
Eden Park
Seasongood Pavilion
1600 Art Museum Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45243
Eva Olivia Catanzariti
Beatrice, Watchman
Sam Hopper
Benedick, Watchman
Kennedy Kirkland
Margaret, Conrade, Messenger
Bryce Nevison
Don Pedro, Sexton
Romeo Seay
Claudio
Emily Renee Shimskey
Leonata
Regan Utrup
Hero, Verges
Colin Waters
Dogberry, Don Jon, Friar
Directed by Robert Carlton Stimmel^
Costume Design: Rainy Edwards
Scenic and Lighting Design: Chris Holloway
FOH Engineer, A/V Tech, Sound Design: Val Molloy
Wardrobe Supervisor: Lydia Kabzinski
Stage Manager: Colton Wolf
^Artist Sponsored by Judge Mark Painter
FREE Shakespeare in the Park is made possible through the generous support of companies, foundations, and donors throughout the tri-state and beyond. If you would like to make a gift in support of the program, please visit the Park Fund page to donate online or call 513.381.2273 to donate by phone.
Explore the impact this program has on the community:
73% have more pride in their community because of the park tour.
97% feel their neighborhoods are positively impacted through this program.
86% of audiences report that their community needs more arts opportunities
89% of audiences report that this is the easiest and most accessible way to attend live theatre
Following past initiatives like Project Hamlet, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its passion for exploring stories beyond Shakespeare’s original canon with Project Much Ado. This summer, audiences can enjoy Shakespeare’s beloved comedy Much Ado About Nothing completely free at FREE Shakespeare in the Park July 14-September 6, 2026, then head to the mainstage July 10-25, 2026 for Dogberry and Verges are Scared, a wildly funny new adventure following two of Much Ado About Nothing's most chaotic and unlikely “heroes.” Together, these productions offer audiences the chance to experience Shakespeare’s classic story from two wildly different perspectives, discovering new layers of comedy, humanity, and theatrical imagination along the way!
This program is sponsored by our Shakespeare Season Sponsors: The Linnemann Family Foundation. Additional support comes from the Western & Southern Financial Group, ArtsWave, and generous donors to the FREE Shakespeare in the Park Fund.
Tickets & Admission
Admission is completely free and open to the public—no fees, no reservations, just great, FREE theatre!
Nope! All performances are general admission. Just show up, grab a spot, and enjoy the show.
We post all weather or venue updates on our Facebook and Instagram channels as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and flexibility!
Park performances are booked in the winter/spring and the venue pays a fee to host the performance. To book a park performance or learn more, please email us.
Plan Your Visit
We recommend arriving 30-40 minutes before the show to find parking, set up your lawn chair or blanket, and get settled.
Every venue will be a little bit different but it is usually a good idea to bring your own seating. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, blankets, snacks, water, bug spray, and a light jacket.
We will be in 40 different venues and each has a different parking arrangement but most parks offer free on‑site parking, though spaces can be limited. Carpooling, biking, or arriving early is usually encouraged.
Accessibility & Special Services
Yes! Performances with these services will be clearly noted in our online schedule. For questions, just reach out.
Our productions are family‑friendly! They last approximately 2 hours including an intermission.
Contact & More Info
Each park has its own policies for food, alcohol, seating, and accessibility. For details, please reach out directly to that park or venue.
Our Box Office team is here Monday–Friday, 12 PM–5 PM. Call (513) 381‑2273 or email boxoffice@cincyshakes.com. We look forward to seeing you in the park!
This production of Much Ado About Nothing is a part ofAmerica 250, a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
