Free, Family-Friendly Celebration Returns to Lenox on Saturday, May 23
Shakespeare & Company announces its third annual Community Day, a free, family-friendly celebration on Saturday, May 23, from 11 am to 4 pm at the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Community Day invites guests of all ages to enjoy performances, interactive activities, film screenings, food trucks, and opportunities to learn about more than two dozen nonprofit and community organizations serving the Berkshires and beyond. Admission is free and open to the public.
This year’s event features a robust mix of returning favorites and exciting new offerings, including the Bard’s Balloon Fight — a spontaneous, participatory Shakespeare experience — and Shakespeare-oke, a first for Community Day. Audiences can also look forward to the Olga Dunn Dance Company, acrobatic antics from Company Artists Kirsten Peacock and Nick Nudler, live music throughout the day, and more. For more information, visit shakespeare.org.
Schedule of Events
Time
11:00 AM
Behind the Curtain Talk
Back by popular demand!
Tina Packer Playhouse
Behind the Curtain host Ann Berman speaks with Artistic Director Allyn Burrows about his mission to infuse popular entertainment media, including circus acts and rock & roll, with the Bard’s timeless text.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Drag Story Hour & Craft
Back by popular demand!
Rose Footprint Theatre
The Berkshires Chapter of Drag Story Hour hosts a story hour for folks of all ages, and leads a craft activity afterward!
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Eagles Band
Back by popular demand!
Friedman Family Garden
The Eagles Band performs under the tent in the Friedman Family Garden!
1:00 – 1:15 PM
The Bard’s Balloon Fight!
Exciting new offering!
Rose Meadow
Come learn some spontaneous Shakespeare — participation encouraged! Some troublemaking actors pick a fight with one another, teaching anyone around them some text and enlisting them in an ensuing water balloon fight. Fun for all ages, but beware: you might get wet! Weather permitting.
1:30 – 2:00 PM
Olga Dunn Dance Company
Exciting new offering!
Tina Packer Playhouse
The brilliant work of the Olga Dunn Dance Company delights audiences around the Berkshires year-round. Don’t miss what the Berkshire Eagle calls “a triumphant physical and spirited celebration”!
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Midsummer Dreamers and Other Acrobatic Antics
Exciting new offering!
Tina Packer Playhouse
Company Artists Kirsten Peacock and Nick Nudler will perform a teaser of their devised piece Midsummer Dreamers, coming to Shakespeare & Company this September. After the brief performance, they might show you a trick or two!
3:00 – 3:30 PM
Shakespeare-oke
Exciting new offering!
Friedman Family Garden
Will Kempe’s Players presents “Shakespeare-oke” — a Community Day first!
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Live Music with Greg Boover
Back by popular demand!
Friedman Family Garden
Company Artist and musician Greg Boover plays acoustic covers and some original music to close out the day.
All Day
Folio Fotos
Back by popular demand!
Tina Packer Playhouse Lobby
Are you more of a Hamlet or Titania, Queen of the Fairies? Come to the Tina Packer Playhouse lobby for your choice of photo setup with costumes and props from actual Shakespeare plays. Photos will be taken by a company member right from your cell phone.
Community Organizations
Community Day is proud to welcome the following organizations to the 2025 event:
• Berkshire Athenaeum
• Berkshire Black Economic Council
• Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention
• Berkshire County Kids Place
• Berkshire HorseWorks
• Berkshire Immigrant Center
• Berkshire Lyric
• Berkshire Music School
• Berkshire Pride
• Canine Therapy Dogs
• Chesterwood
• Drag Story Hour
• Downtown Pittsfield Inc.
• Eagles Jazz Ensemble
• Flying Cloud Institute
• Heart & Soil
• Home Farm
• Leander House
• Lenox Chamber of Commerce
• Olga Dunn Dance Co.
• Susan B. Anthony Museum
• The Great Josh Billings RunAground
• The Mount
• Trustco Bank
• Ventfort Hall
• Western Massachusetts Labor Action
• Will Kempe’s Players
Food & Beverage
Food trucks and vendors on site will include:
• Cousins Maine Lobster
• Doctor Sax House
• Bear Butter
