"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,” the wondrous William Shakespeare once wrote. And when considering the life of C. Douglas Ramey, founder of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, this often quoted Shakespearean line is true.
Ramey took on several roles throughout the course of his lifetime, like drama specialist, theater director, and then finally festival founder to name a few. And as of last Wednesday, Kentucky’s 55th annual Shakespeare Festival is in full swing, continuing Ramey’s lifelong dedication of carrying on the poetic work of the Bard.
What started in the summer of 1960 in Louisville’s Central Park as a simple art fair showcasing performances of rotating Shakespearean plays by the Carriage House Players, a theater group created by Ramey, has turned into one of the most successful and longest running Shakespeare festivals in the nation.
Though Ramey passed away in October of 1979, his passion for Shakespeare and the performing arts still lives on through his mission which is still carried on by the festival today, “Grounded in the works of Shakespeare we enrich our community by presenting accessible, professional theatre experiences that educate, inspire and entertain people of all ages.”
And this year’s festival is going to be better than ever with multiple performances of several different plays scheduled for nearly every night this summer. The first of this year’s plays, The Tempest, is running through Sunday, June 14th, with the exclusion of Monday, June 8th, which will be the weekly night off for performers. Next on the calendar will be The Taming of the Shrew, which will begin its eleven night run on Thursday, June 18th.
Each play will begin at 8pm at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Old Louisville's Central Park, with a variety of Louisville’s best food trucks and Will’s Tavern opening at the location at 7pm. Admission to each play is free, however seating is limited, so it is suggested guests bring their own chairs or blankets.
For this year's complete schedule and more information about how you can get involved with the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, call 502-574-9900 or visit their website here.
