Lakeside Shakespeare Festival

Lakeside Shakespeare Festival Bringing the Bard to Benzie County, Michigan since 2003

Lakeside Shakespeare was founded in 2003 by Artistic Director Elizabeth Laidlaw and featuring the performing and technical talents of a rotating company of over 30 of Chicago's finest theatrical artists. LST serves the Benzie County, Michigan community, performing free Shakespeare in the Park every summer during the last week of July and first week of August. Our current performance home is at 188

Park Avenue in Frankfort (the Old Ice Rink at Tank Hill), where we perform with the assistance and support of the City of Frankfort, MI. In addition to challenging and imaginative productions of the works of Shakespeare, LST conducts both youth and adult workshops, also free of charge, during their performance weeks in Benzie County. It is LST's goal to continue to expand our reach further and further beyond Benzie, and beyond theatre, to become a hub of artistic challenge and opportunity for many artists, and to develop further appreciation and support for the performing and visual arts in Northern Michigan.

This week, our team of theater educators has been busy. They’ve been working with over 40 kiddos ages 6-14 to put on pro...
07/30/2026

This week, our team of theater educators has been busy. They’ve been working with over 40 kiddos ages 6-14 to put on productions for you! Arrive early (kids are on at 6:30!)) on Thursday July 30th, Friday July 31st, and Saturday August 1st to catch a showcase of their hard work on our stage before the main performances.

Theater education is an integral part of our mission, and we’re lucky to pair our team of Chicago professionals with area youth to share the love of performing, the art of acting, and the skills of the stage with the next generation.

For more info about our shows this week, visit https://www.theworldsastage.org/events

Tomorrow, Tuesday July 28th: Join us for happy hour (4:30pm-6:30pm) at the Stormcloud Brewing Company Pub! Live music, a...
07/27/2026

Tomorrow, Tuesday July 28th: Join us for happy hour (4:30pm-6:30pm) at the Stormcloud Brewing Company Pub! Live music, a chance to chat and mingle with our cast & crew, and Shakespearean characters roaming the pub will make for a very theatrical afternoon downtown.

Plus, Stormcloud is offering $1 off any size pour of their special Lakeside brew “Fleer & Jest” during our happy hour, and $1 from every pour will be donated to the Lakeside Shakespeare Festival.

About Fleer & Jest: In celebration of Lakeside Shakespeare’s 2026 season, Stormcloud hath brewed a potent golden ale of Belgic birth, graced with a generous measure of local honey, ginger, rosemary, and the fairest touch of cardamom. Take up thy cup, good friend—one draught—nay, two—and thou’lt be speaking like the Bard himself.

Stick around Main Street to see the free showcase from Traverse City Dance Project at the Garden Theater beginning at 7pm!

Just 2 more chances to see Macbeth (July 29 & 31) 2 more chances to see Midsummer (July 30 & Aug 1). All shows begin at ...
07/27/2026

Just 2 more chances to see Macbeth (July 29 & 31) 2 more chances to see Midsummer (July 30 & Aug 1). All shows begin at 7pm. Have any more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out!

07/23/2026

Live this week in Frankfort, Michigan! Shakespeare in the park: professional Chicago actors perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Tank Hill in Frankfort July 23, 25, 30, and August 1 at 7pm. Tickets are pay-what-you-can (suggested $30 for adults, $10 for kids). Pack a picnic and your lawn chairs and arrive early to get the best spot! Learn more at lakesideshakespeare.org

Directed by
Video by

07/22/2026

Live this week in Frankfort, Michigan! Shakespeare in the park: professional Chicago actors perform Macbeth on Tank Hill in Frankfort July 24, 26, 29, and 31 at 7pm. Tickets are pay-what-you-can (suggested $30 for adults, $10 for kids). Pack a picnic and your lawn chairs and arrive early to get the best spot! Learn more at lakesideshakespeare.org

Directed by with
Video by

Join us for the 2026 Lakeside Shakespeare Festival! Professional Chicago actors present an evening of magic on Tank Hill...
07/17/2026

Join us for the 2026 Lakeside Shakespeare Festival! Professional Chicago actors present an evening of magic on Tank Hill in Frankfort.

FAQ
🎟️We have pay-what-you-can tickets with a suggested price of $30. (12 & under: $10) to help us cover the cost of bringing our production to Benzie County. This is a suggested amount and we appreciate your support whether you’re able to give more or less! Tickets are available only in person at the event, and we take cash/card/check/venmo/etc.

🪑We encourage you to bring your own seating—lawn chairs and picnic blankets are a fan-favorite. Seating is first come, first serve (with space for blankets reserved in the front), so we recommend you arrive early to get a good spot.

🌳All performances take place on Tank Hill in Frankfort: 188 Park Ave. This is an outdoor theater space, and we perform rain or shine as long as the audience sticks around. We’re monitoring the air quality situation and will alert you if we need to move the performances indoors.

This year, Brad Kik has been working on something special. A limited number of our 2026 commemorative posters and t shir...
07/14/2026

This year, Brad Kik has been working on something special. A limited number of our 2026 commemorative posters and t shirts will be available for purchase at the shows this summer (hurry and grab one before they sell out!)

Address

188 Park Avenue
Frankfort, MI
49635

Telephone

(231) 930-7999

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