Romeo and Juliet Now Reside in St. Louis Park

A year after putting on "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the Public Theater of Minnesota is bringing a new Shakespeare play to St. Louis Park this summer:

The star-crossed lovers debuted on July 6 and will continue to take center stage at the at 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 22. Admission is free.

The Public Theater of Minnesota's mission is to provide working opportunities in a non-academic environment for young actors. Last year, director Mark Hauck said his oldest actor was 23.

"I feel so lucky to have a really smart, hardworking group of actors," he said in a . "Their discipline really is amazing, digging into the heart of Shakespeare's story and understanding every single word."

"Shakespeare in the Park" is an idea that's been done across the world, but it's new to St. Louis Park and the outdoor Veteran's Amphitheater. Hauck said last year that he believes the combination is a perfect match.

"It's not on the Mississippi River, it's not on some big lake, but there is something magical about Wolfe Park in the evening that makes it well-suited for outdoor Shakespeare," he said.

All are welcome to attend the free shows this July.

"This really is Shakespeare for the people," Hauck said. "It's founded on the core beliefs of community theater, which is people coming together and listening to stories. We're all very proud of what we've done."

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IF YOU GO

• What: "Romeo and Juliet"
• Where: at Wolfe Park
• When: 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 22
• Price: Free