Outdoor-theater season kicks off at Volunteer Park

A great summer entertainment deal awaits you at parks and outdoor theaters around the Puget Sound, and beyond.

From Vancouver, B.C.'s Bard on the Beach to Seattle's Wooden O to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, the Pacific Northwest maintains a wealth of summer stage productions — of William Shakespeare plays, natch, but of musicals, children's shows and adaptations of other classics, too. And many of these outings are free, or by donation.

In our burg, the season officially kicks off with the Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival, Saturday and next Sunday. The annual Volunteer Park event on Capitol Hill unfolds on two stages, before crowds that grow bigger year by year.

Some basics, if you go:

• Consider busing to Volunteer Park, where parking is very limited.

• The sun can be brutally hot there on balmy days, so the wise bring hats, sunscreen and cold drinks.

• Stake out seating early. And be kind to your fellow patrons: Don't take up a king-size blanket's worth of space if you don't need it. And bring only your low-backed chairs; high seats mar the view of others.

• There are no tickets, but if possible toss a buck or a few in the hat. Theater costs money to mount, and actors deserve to eat, too.

Can't make it to next weekend's 10-plays-in-one extravaganza? Many of the troupes involved will tour their productions around the Sound through the warm months. Check out their Web sites below, or for more outdoor theater options, check our accompanying calendar.

Now, on with the shows!

2009 Seattle Outdoor Theatre Festival Schedule

Noon, Saturday

"The Merry Wives of Windsor"

Last Leaf Productions

www.lastleaf99.org

The closest thing to a sitcom Shakespeare penned, this romp has Windsor matrons giving lecherous Sir John Falstaff a slapstick comeuppance.

Last Leaf, a community troupe based in Monroe, celebrates its 10th year offering abridged versions of classics and will take its "Merry Wives" to spots in Woodinville, Snohomish and Arlington, through July 26.

2 p.m. Saturday

"Richard III"

Wooden O

www.seattleshakespeare.org/woodeno.

One of the slimiest toads in the canon, Richard murders his way to the throne and knocks off those crossing him after he's crowned.

Recently merged with the indoor Seattle Shakespeare Company, Wooden O uses some of the region's best classical directors, artists with creative approaches to the Bard's texts. On this occasion, Seattle Shakes head Stephanie Shine directs.

A Wooden O version of "Taming of the Shrew" (staged by Aimee Bruneau) is on the second day of the Volunteer Park fest, and also tours parks this summer.

2:30 p.m. Saturday (second stage)

"The Taming of the Shrew"

Balagan Theatre

www.balagantheatre.org

This comedic battle between wild Kate and her hard-driving "tamer" Petruchio needs strong actors and deft direction to rise above its political incorrectness.

Balagan Theatre, a newish Capitol Hill fringe company, gives it a go in tandem with the Shakespeare on the Troll troupe. Outside of the festival, the show is also playing at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. today, Saturday and next Sunday, under the Aurora Bridge in Fremont, staged on the famed Fremont Troll. (Note: Wooden O is also mounting "Taming of the Shrew" this summer — viewers can contrast and compare.)

5 p.m. Saturday

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Theater Schmeater

www.schmeater.org

Mary Hall Surface's play retells a fable popularized in Disney's animated musical "Fantasia," about the eerie adventures of a young magician's assistant.

Theater Schmeater has a solid record of mounting such G-Rated park diversions. This one runs through Aug. 9 at Volunteer Park.

7 p.m. Saturday

"The Comedy of Errors"

GreenStage

www.greenstage.org

Two sets of identical twins get into all sorts of messes in Shakespeare's antic spree.

Ryan Higgins stages the piece for the veteran al fresco troupe GreenStage, which also tours "The Comedy of Errors" to Seattle, Lynnwood and Burien parks through Aug. 15.

Noon, July 12 "Twelfth Night"

Young Shakespeare Workshop

www.youngshakespeare.org

Romances and gags abound in this blithe, popular Shakespeare comedy, which here features teen performers. The well-established Young Shakespeare Workshop trains these young actors in the classics and will be taking this production to various local outdoor and indoor venues into August. For the latest schedule, or to inquire about booking the show, call 206-284-7580.

2 p.m. July 12

"King John"

GreenStage

www.greenstage.org

Infrequently produced but fascinating, Shakespeare's history play addresses the troubled, bloody reign of a controversial 13th-century monarch. The show tours area parks through Aug. 15.

2 p.m. July 12 (second stage)

"Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"

Open Circle Theater

www.octheater.com

Several fairy tales (including that one about Little Red Riding Hood) get fractured in this all-ages comedy, by local author Aaron Allshouse. It's produced by Open Circle, a spunky fringe company based in Belltown. The play runs in Volunteer Park through Aug. 8.

5 p.m. July 12

"The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Theater Schmeater

See Theater Schmeater notes above in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

7 p.m. July 12

"The Taming of the Shrew"

Wooden O

See Wooden O notes in "Richard III" above.

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com