Ghostlight Performing Arts  (August 10 & 24)

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised) (again)
@ Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor
Free & open

Shakespeare’s canon gets a highly condensed treatment in this frantic comedy. Free, no tickets required. Info here.

 

Saltfire Theatre  (August 23-25)

The Sneeze
@ Fort Worden State Park in Port Townsend

Chekhov’s comedy takes to the fields at Port Townsend’s historic fort. Tickets required (when available); info here. 

 

Stone Dance  (August 24)

Wander/Wonder
@ Price Sculpture Forest in Coupeville, on Whidbey Island

Movement, visual art, music, and nature conspire in this unique showcase, as dancers create ephemeral, site-specific pieces inspired by fixed, large-scale works along the trails. Conceptualized by Eva Stone, with works by 10 dancers. See NWTheatre’s coverage of last year’s performances here. Admission by donation; info here. 

 

String & Shadow Puppet Theater  (thru August 30)

Or So It Would Seam
@ various parks throughout the Northwest

The theatre troupe known for its giant puppets and family-friendly performances takes audiences on a “voyage into the hidden universe” in this year’s summer tour. Admission by donation; info and schedule here.

 

Whim W’Him  (thru September 4)

Pop-up performances
@ various parks in Seattle
Free & open

Free summer performances by this dance group show off the natural beauty around the Sound each year. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here.

 

Island Shakespeare Festival  (thru September 7)

King Lear
@ Langley on Whidbey Island

Power and platitudes take center stage in Shakespeare’s tragic drama, which rounds out south Whidbey’s annual summer season. Advance tickets and pay-what-you-choose admission both available; info here. 

 

Island Shakespeare Festival  (thru September 8)

The Lucky Chance
@ Langley on Whidbey Island

17th-century playwright Aphra Behn’s “raunchy Restoration comedy” finds new light in this co-production with Expand the Canon. Advance tickets and pay-what-you-choose admission both available; info here. 

 

Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival  (August 31-September 1)

Bumbershoot
@ Seattle Center

Seattle’s flagship festival of music and arts returns in this two-day, all-day festival. Performers include dance groups El Sueño and Whim W’Him, and locally-based music and theatre artist Stephanie Anne Johnson. Paid admission and tickets required, here. 

 

☀️ 🌳

(Past)

 

Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival  (July 13-14)

@ Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill
Free & open

It’s the season’s greatest sampler platter.

Choose from 15 shows by a dozen companies on three stages at this two-day, all-day annual event. Hosted by GreenStage. View full schedule and company information here.

 

Bainbridge Performing Arts  (thru July 14)

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
@ Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island

A magical forest forms the setting for this Shakespeare comedy, performed at a picturesque nature preserve. Paid admission and tickets required, here.

 

Velocity Dance Center  (July 20)

Supercell: water womb
@ Freeway Park in Downtown Seattle

Performance duo slowdanger explores environmental themes via interconnected dance in this durational work, featuring members of the Seattle Festival of Dance + Improvisation professional cohort. Free, RSVP here.

 

Seattle Opera  (July 20-21)

Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers
@ parks in South Seattle
Free & open

This short family-friendly opera features eclectic music, scheming critters, and storytime before. Held mornings at Othello Playground (7/20) and Highland Park (7/21). Free, no tickets required. Info here. 

 

String & Shadow Puppet Theater  (thru July 21)

Or So It Would Seam
@ Decatur Woods Park in West Olympia

The theatre troupe known for its giant puppets and family-friendly performances takes audiences on a “voyage into the hidden universe” in this year’s park show. Admission by donation at the park; info here.

 

Penguin Productions  (July 25)

Finding Trails: On Wheels
@ Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre
Free & open

This year’s festival of short plays by young playwrights is inspired by relationships with outdoor spaces and the wheels we use to get around in them. Also performs at the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival (7/13). Free, no tickets required. Info here.

 

Pacific Northwest Ballet  (August 3)

PNB Dance Film Festival
@ Seattle Center Mural Amphitheatre
Free & open

The third annual festival showcases films from local and national talent, projected on a giant screen under the stars. Free, no tickets required. Info here. 

 

Wooden O – Seattle Shakespeare Company  (thru August 4)

The Two Gentlemen of Verona
@ various parks around Puget Sound
Free & open

Romance, elegance, disguises, and a dog all show up in this shortened adaptation from Seattle Shakespeare’s long-running outdoor troupe, with performances all around the Sound. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here. 

 

Up Up Up  (thru August 4)

Crane truck circus
@ various sites throughout Western Washington

This troupe brings joyous spectacle — aerials, clowning, and a flying piano among them — on the back of a flatbed truck. Performances are all around the Sound, but most are up north (Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties). Admission by donation; info and schedule here. 

 

Dacha Theatre  (thru August 11)

Dice: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
@ UW main campus, outside Hughes Playhouse

Shakespeare’s magical forest comedy gets a twist with Dacha’s signature “dice” surprise casting and playful approach. Pay-what-you-choose admission; tickets required, here.

 

GreenStage  (thru August 17)

Twelfth Night
@ various parks in and near Seattle
Free & open

Shakespeare’s comedy of disguise and deception performs throughout the Seattle area as part of this summer mainstay’s season. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here.

 

GreenStage  (thru August 17)

Henry VI, parts 2 & 3
@ various parks in and near Seattle
Free & open

Shakespeare’s saga of turmoil and dissent performs throughout the Seattle area as part of this summer mainstay’s season. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here. 

 

GreenStage – Backyard Bard  (thru August 17)

All’s Well That Ends Well
@ various parks in Seattle
Free & open

A compact, hour-long adaptation of Shakespeare’s tale of manipulation and chasing love performs at smaller parks throughout Seattle as part of this summer mainstay’s season. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here.

 

GreenStage – Backyard Bard  (thru August 17)

Julius Caesar
@ various parks in Seattle
Free & open

Ambition rules the day in this compact, hour-long adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s best-known works, performing at smaller parks throughout Seattle as part of this summer mainstay’s season. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here.

 

Burien Actors Theatre  (thru August 18)

Fallen Angels
@ various parks in south King County
Free & open

Comedy sizzles as passion fizzles in this adaptation of Noël Coward play, held in a different park each performance. Free, no tickets required. Check schedule here.

 

Kitsap Forest Theater  (thru August 18)

Cinderella
@ Kitsap Forest Theater in Bremerton

Fit for a classic fairy tale (or a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical), the Mountaineers Players perform amidst the trees and ferns in this natural amphitheatre on a sprawling rhododendron preserve. Paid admission and tickets required, here. 

 

Saltfire Theatre  (thru August 18)

The Sneeze
@ Finnriver Cider in Chimacum

Chekhov’s comedy performs at the Peninsula’s venerable cider orchard. Tickets required (when available); info here. 

 

Dacha Theatre  (August 16-18)

Dice: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
@ Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend

Shakespeare’s magical forest comedy gets a twist with Dacha’s signature “dice” surprise casting and playful approach. Water’s-edge Port Townsend shows presented in collaboration with Key City Public Theatre. Pay-what-you-choose admission; tickets required. Info here.