Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) is hosting its annual Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream starting on Aug. 26 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is co-hosted by Enjoy Oxford.

Barring the summer of 2020 performance, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, this will be the 12th year of the production.

The show will be performed by The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, a performing group where Oxford is just one leg of their summer performances across the greater Cincinnati area.

“Cincinnati Shakespeare Company always brings a top-notch, quality production,” said Heidi Schiller, the executive director at OCAC.

This show will be the fourth time the company has brought “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to the Oxford community.

“As a theater person who studied Shakespeare,” Schiller said, “I would say that, of the comedies, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is the most popular Shakespeare comedy.”

The event will take place at the OCAC and will be free to the public. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion.

“We always have a big turnout,” Schiller said. “It’s the last outdoor event that we [OCAC] have in our pavilion before everything comes back inside for the summer programming.”

Schiller added that the event is the highlight of the end of summer activities, as the school year begins in August.

“It makes for a nice transition into the school year,” Schiller said.

If weather conditions make the performance difficult outside, the performances will be moved inside the OCAC.

Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to the event. Visitors will also be able to drink and walk around with alcoholic beverages, in accordance with DORA. Cotton candy and popcorn will be provided for visitors for free.