LENOX, Mass. – Shakespeare & Company will host its first-ever dog-friendly performance on Sunday, August 11, at a 7 p.m., outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, staged in the Arthur S. Waldstein Amphitheatre.
The initiative was launched by General Manager Steve Ball, who co-leads Shakespeare & Company’s Merry Wanderers’ Tours in the summer with his chocolate lab, Willie.
“Our hope is that this ’theme’ night might allow some folks to attend that normally wouldn’t attend,” said Ball. “It’s also a chance to have a nice night out with your dog – and dogless people are welcome, too, of course.”
Ball added that dogs must be leashed and well-behaved, and complimentary canine companion seats will be offered to those dogs who may need their own. In the event the show must be moved inside due to weather, exchange tickets will be offered to patrons with dogs.
This production of The Comedy of Errors, directed by Kate Kohler Amory, runs for two hours with one intermission and is set in Vaudeville-era Coney Island, featuring song, dance, and acrobatics throughout.
“It’s a colorful and zany take on a tale of mistaken identities, set in a place where magic, mischief, and mischief abound,” she said.
The evening will also feature Charlie’s Bistro Bus, one of several food trucks visiting Shakespeare & Company on select nights throughout the summer to serve dinners and snacks outside of the Tina Packer Playhouse from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Concessions and a full bar are also available at Josie’s Place in the playhouse lobby. Anyone is welcome to visit the grounds during this time to enjoy a picnic or stroll around the 33-acre campus, regardless of if they are ticket-holders.
Sponsored by Scott and Roxanne Bok, tickets to The Comedy of Errors are available at shakespeare.org or by calling the Box Office at (413) 637-3353, and range from $22 to $72. Card-to-Culture tickets are available for $5 for WIC, EBT, and ConnectorCare families.