Shakespeare on the Common 2021 [07/21/21]

We are thrilled to announce the Company’s plans to return to live performance this summer with our 25th anniversary production of Free Shakespeare on the Common. If you have any questions or concerns please contact our team at [email protected] or call our Box Office at 617-362-7485.

With the safety of our artists, staff, and audiences at the forefront of decision-making, there will be a number of adjustments to this year’s offering. The production will be streamlined to allow for an intermission-less performance. In addition, audience size will be limited according to the most updated state and city guidelines on capacity and social distancing. In accordance with union guidelines, CSC invites and encourages patrons over the age of 2 to wear a mask until seated, while attending The Tempest. The production will remain free, but due to expected capacity constraints, advance registration is recommended for ease of arrival and priority access to seating. Walk ups will be welcome the night of!

We have marked out spacious rows throughout the Common to provide visual guidelines for seating. Front of House staff will also be available to orient anyone to the space. Please be considerate of others and leave three feet between parties. We have limited our capacity to 50% of previous years to accommodate this. To allow as many people as possible to enjoy The Tempest every night, please follow the directions of our staff at all times.

Schedule:

Wednesday, July 21 at 8PM
Thursday, July 22 at 8PM
Friday, July 23 at 8PM
Saturday, July 24 at 8PM
Sunday, July 25 at 8PM
Tuesday, July 27 at 8PM
Wednesday, July 28 at 8PM
Thursday, July 29 at 8PM
Friday, July 30 at 8PM
Saturday, July 31 at 8PM
Sunday, August 1 at 6PM
Tuesday, August 3 at 8PM
Wednesday, August 4 at 8PM
Thursday, August 5 at 8PM
Friday, August 6 at 8PM
Saturday, August 7 at 8PM
Sunday, August 8 at 8PM

Accessibility Performances:

– Open Captioning: July 31
– Register HERE: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10776869
– Audio description and ASL interpreted performance #1: August 1
– Register HERE: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10776954
– ASL interpreted performance #2: August 6
– Register HERE: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10776873
– Rain Date for all Access services: August 8

Synopsis:

Prospero, the former and rightful Duke of Milan, washed up on the shores of this island with his baby daughter, Miranda, many years ago.

On this day, Prospero uses his magic and the powers of his spirit-servant, Ariel, to conjure a storm–the tempest of the title–to shipwreck a passing vessel. Aboard this wrecked ship is a group of royals: Alonso, the King of Naples; his son Ferdinand, the prince; his treacherous brother, Sebastian; and Prospero’s treacherous brother, Antonio, among other nobles and mariners.

In this tale of magic, betrayal, revenge, and family, Prospero uses his learned sorcery to trick and trial the stranded sea voyagers, in the hopes that he will be avenged for these years of forced exile. Meanwhile, Prospero’s slave, Caliban, forms alliances with Stephano and Trinculo, a drunken clown and a fool, respectively, to try to rid himself of his master. On another part of the island, Ferdinand and Miranda meet and begin to fall in love. All must come to terms with the past if peace and love are to reign in this brave new world.

Friends Section Chairs:

Free Shakespeare on the Common is made possible through a combination of grants, sponsorships, and donations collected through the Friends Section program. Our Friends Section consists of low beach chairs pre-set in front of the stage. We have a limited number of tall chairs (the height of a typical camping chair) for patrons who may not be comfortable in our low beach chairs. To request tall chairs, please make a note under “special accommodations.”

There are a few changes to the Friends Section this year we want you to know prior. You will be able to reserve pods of 2 for $150. This seating is to help with safety measures and ensure as many households can attend as possible. For this reason, single seats will be unavailable. For those planning to attend with friends, and have selected single seats in years past, we encourage you to reserve your seats as a pod. Odd-numbered parties will be seated in a pod of the next largest size, so make sure to bring a friend for the extra seat! Learn more here: https://commshakes.org/friend-section-chairs-on-the-common/

Shakespeare on the Common 2021

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Shakespeare on the Common 2021

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