Crowds Come Out For Shakespeare In The Park

It was a night of classic theater, outdoor entertainment and plenty of laughs as Ridge Park was transformed into an open air theater this week. 

On Aug. 21 and 22 the Chicago Shakespeare Theater staged a production of The Comedy of Errors as part of the Chicago Park District's "Night Out in the Parks" initiative. Hundreds of local residents came out to enjoy the high-energy performance. 

Ridge Park was one of 18 neighborhood parks to host the production this summer. 

The show was introduced by Ald. Matt O'Shea and Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael Kelly. 

"We are sitting in the middle of Ridge Park watching Shakespeare, who would have thunk it?" Kelly said. 

Kelly is a Mt. Greenwood native and resident of the 19th Ward. He says playing a hand in helping put on events like this is an honor. 

"I'm a St. Christina kid and I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for the parks. I spent every waking moment at Mount Greenwood Park as a kid," Kelly said. "I like to think I get it, and I know how important the parks are to our city and our community."

Kendall Karg is the project manager for the production and says it is a unique opportunity to bring the works of Shakespeare and Chicago Shakespeare Theater performers to large crowds of residents. 

She said the show was tailored to have some audience interaction and has played to thousands over the course of 27 performances throughout the city. 

The shows were free and sponsored by a number of corporate sponsors.