605 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17101     Directions
Phone: (717) 238-4111     info@gamutplays.org     Join our e-mail list

Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival's
Free Shakespeare in the Park

PLANNED FOR 2008: LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST

Our 2008 Free Shakespeare in the Park show, Love's Labour's Lost , will be performed at the Levitt Pavilion in Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. from June 4 to June 14.

* A word about seating
* Why a Free Show?
* Directions to Reservoir Park
* Reservoir Park History
* Not sure about the weather?

A WORD ABOUT SEATING

The Levitt Pavilion is an outdoor venue with lawn seating, so please bring a blanket or lawn chair. For more information visit the Levitt Pavilion home page.

A FREE SHOW?

Yes. A free show. Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival was officially founded on March 1, 1994 by J. Clark Nicholson, Melissa H. Nicholson and Thomas A. Hensel. The City of Harrisburg was seeking ideas for performing arts events at Reservoir Park when Clark and Melissa suggested using the bandshell to produce outdoor Shakespeare. The City liked the idea and the Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival was born.

The main goal of HSF is to continue to produce free Shakespeare in Reservoir Park each year. Why? HSF believes that the works of William Shakespeare were written to be performed outdoors for a diverse audience and would like everyone to be able to enjoy and appreciate these great works, regardless of income or background. What better location than Reservoir Park and how better to reach a diverse audience than with free shows!

DIRECTIONS

The Levitt Pavilion of the Performing Arts is located at 100 Concert Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17103. If you are coming from the Harrisburg city center:

  • Directly behind the State Capitol Building (EAST of the building, going away from the Susquehanna River) is the State Street Bridge. (This bridge does not cross water, it crosses Cameron Street.)
  • Take the State Street bridge traveling EAST, away from the Capitol Building.
  • After you cross the bridge, proceed to the 5th traffic light.
  • On your right you will see a light blue and grey restaurant called Parkside Cafe. Turn right at the light onto Reservoir Drive.
  • Directly in front of you is the Reservoir Park Bandshell.

Note: State Street eventually turns into Jonestown Road/Route 22. If you are coming into Harrisburg from Route 22, you will need to turn left onto Reservoir Drive. If you get to the stoplight at 18th Street, you've gone too far. Turn around and follow the directions above.

Click here to see a map of the venue on Mapquest.

RESERVOIR PARK HISTORY

In 1872, a reservoir for the City of Harrisburg was built in an undeveloped area outside the city limits, then called Prospect Hill (now Allison Hill). City leaders recognized the spot as a wonderful vantage point to view the Capitol, the river valley and the Blue Mountains and, in 1890, established the area around the reservoir as a park. The Reservoir Park commission was created in order to protect and preserve the park's natural environment. They also wanted to make it the "social spot" of the City and in 1898 added the Reservoir Park Mansion, as well as an 18-hole golf course and picnic facilities after the turn of the century. The Bandshell was dedicated with a plaque in 1940.

Over the past few years through the Parks Improvement Plan, Mayor Reed and the City have been working to make Reservoir Park a social gathering place once again. The Mansion has been restored and includes Recreation Bureau Offices, conference centers and, in conjunction with the Art Association of Harrisburg, three art galleries. Adjacent to the Mansion are four classrooms/studios built to house a variety of art classes for adults and children. Antique-style lights were added to the grounds, the Bandshell was restored, and much work was done to improve and beautify the landscaping. A park ranger station was also constructed and the children's playground was rehabilitated. The most recent addition to Reservoir Park is the new National Civil War Museum which opened in the summer of 2000.

Reservoir Park is also part of the Capital Area Greenbelt. When completed the Greenbelt will be a 20-mile-long trail around Harrisburg linking parks and open spaces for recreational activities such as walking, jogging, bicycling, and hiking. But it does much more than just provide recreation, as it helps to preserve some of the area's fast-disappearing natural landscape and animal habitats, provides educational experiences for old and young alike, and filters urban pollution for the City and the Susquehanna River. The Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) is a non-profit organization committed to completing and maintaining this natural trail. If you are interested in finding out more about CAGA, please call 717-921-GREEN

WEATHER

Check out the current conditions in and around Harrisburg:


More weather by AccuWeather®

Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival's Weather Policy:

  • In the event of heavy rain or thunderstorms the performance will most likely be cancelled. Although we have been known to perform after heavy downpours that ended one half hour prior to curtain time.
  • The decision to cancel a performance will be made at the latest possible moment.
  • If there is a threat of possible light rain throughout the evening, the performance will proceed with modifications to the sound and lighting systems.
  • If rain begins during a performance, we will hold the show for up to 30 minutes. Once the rain stops, we continue the show exactly where we left off. If the rain persists for over 30 minutes, the performance will be cancelled for the evening.

Become a friend of Gamut! Click here to find out how!