Austin Shakespeare is premiering “Much Ado About Nothing” at Zilker Hillside Theater this week and I have all the details for you:
Shows Start May 7
Showings of William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” run Thursdays through Sundays May 7-24. The shows are free to attend and start at 8 p.m. Austin Shakespeare, a local nonprofit theater company, has been putting on plays every year at the outdoor venue for its “Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park” program since 1984. Last year, the organization put on “Julius Caesar.”
You Can Pack a Picnic
The best part of Shakespeare in the Park, minus the performance, is the ability to pack a picnic. Bring a blanket to spread out on the theater’s actual hill and pack just about anything — I’ve brought sandwiches, cheeseburgers, chips, cookies, and more. No alcohol or glass containers are allowed. Some snacks and drinks will be available to purchase.
‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Follows Two Romances
“Much Ado About Nothing” is a comedy that was likely written between 1598 and 1599. The story follows two couples — Beatrice and Benedick and Hero and Claudio — as they fall in love in Italy. Beatrice and Benedick have an enemies-to-lovers relationship arc while Hero and Claudio fall in love nearly immediately.
“There's something captivating about watching Beatrice and Benedick spar under an Austin spring night with that whole mid-century Italian world shimmering around them. It's Shakespeare at his most approachable, and Zilker is the perfect place to share it,” said Ann Ciccolella, Austin Shakespeare's artistic director, in a news statement.
Parking Is First Come, First Served
Attendees can park for free under the MoPac Boulevard bridge at Stratford Drive and Lou Neff Road. Paid parking is available at the Polo Field near the theater for $20 with a debit or credit card.
ADA parking is free with ADA placards or plates and located behind the theater in the Barton Springs Pool parking lot.
