Shakespeare in the Park Returns
with “The Taming of the Shrew”
July 9 – 25, 2026
The Taming of the Shrew is the 29th Shakespeare in the Park production presented by Rochester Community Players and the Monroe County Parks Department at Highland Park Bowl. It will also be a very different approach to one of William Shakespeare’s best-known works!
Director Jonathan Lowery has set the play in 2015 where the roles and rules for women and men have significantly changed from Shakespeare’s time 400 years ago. The story of unwed Katherine pressured by her father to marry and of Petruchio as a suitor hoping to gain wealth and status as her husband unfolds in quite a different light.
“At its heart, The Taming of the Shrew is a play about seeking healthy and authentic relationships,” says Lowery. “Moving the story to a more recent time gives modern audiences an opportunity to engage with the play’s original intent in a new way. The same words heard centuries ago take on a different tone and meaning.”
For Shakespeare’s characters living in the 21st century, restrictions—especially for young women—are replaced with different expectations for them. Daily use of cell phones, texting over talking, the impact of social media, and the sometimes powerful role of social media influencers all have an impact. Public versus private personas can also be very different for both men and women.
FREE performances of “The Taming of the Shrew” are every evening except Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 25, 2026.
IMPORTANT: The necessary cancellation of any performance due to weather conditions will be posted here, on Facebook and @roccommplayers.
Help RCP Keep
Shakespeare FREE!
The support of donations from audience members coming to our popular Shakespeare in the Park performances has always been an important part of keeping these productions free to everyone. It’s wonderful to see families introducing their children to “the Bard,” groups of friends enjoying theatre under the stars together, and often people biking or walking by stopping to watch all or part of a production. We know having a set ticket price would keep many people from enjoying this truly community experience.
We are very appreciative of the generous donations received during each performance but RCP must always provide additional funds to cover the full cost of our summer shows.
If you would like to help us keep outdoor Shakespeare free for everyone, please consider making an online donation today.
Coming in October
“A Good Farmer”
by Sharyn Rothstein
October 16 – 24, 2026
The last show of RCP’s 101st season is A Good Farmer by Sharyn Rothstein directed by Maria Scipione. Set in Elba, New York, this powerful play is a story of two women—a farm owner and an undocumented Mexican immigrant— facing challenges of friendship and survival in a rural town where immigration raids are common.
Performances are October 16 to 26 at the Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC), 142 Atlantic Avenue in Rochester.