Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks’ mission: to bring accessible, high quality, free Shakespeare to Pittsburgh Citizens; and to encourage the enjoyment and preservation of our natural public places and parks.
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks has been producing free public performances of Shakespeare’s works in the Pittsburgh city parks since 2005. In 2019, PSIP presented our first all-female cast production—Julius Caesar—during 8 performances to rousing critical and audience acclaim. Collaborations with leading cultural and education entities have included University of Pittsburgh Honors College, presenting a performance of our The Comedy of Errors at Pymatuning State Park in 2016. We also inaugurated an ongoing collaboration with The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, providing 2 private student matinees of The Comedy of Errors for a total of 5 public schools and 1 homeschooling group, as well as performing selected scenes as part of The Trust’s Gallery Crawl event. The Trust invited PSIP to develop and perform an original compilation, Supernatural Shakespeare, for student and Gallery Crawl audiences in 2017.
Our Board
As of April 2023
Officers:
Jennifer Tober, president and artistic director
Catherine Aceto, vice president
TBD, secretary
Alan Irvine, treasurer
Directors:
- Lynette Asson
- Aaron Crutchfield
- Erika Fricke
- Yvonne Hudson
- Charles David Richards
- Ann Valdes
- Harper York
PSiP has a working board. We are actors, teachers, scholars, fundraisers, and fans. We are growing the board, seeking hard-working, forward-thinking individuals who want to be part of bringing accessible, high-quality, free Shakespeare to our neighbors in our Pittsburgh parks. Interested applicants may meet us at PSIP events. Submit resume and cover letter or send inquiries to info@pittsburghshakespeare.com.
History
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks was started in 2005 by Artistic Director Jennifer Tober, a Pittsburgh actress/director who has appeared in The Queens, Macbeth 3, Salome, The Red Shoes, and directed several shows for PSIP. In 2005 Tober was so inspired by the natural amphitheater at the bottom of the sledding hill in Frick Park in Squirrel Hill that she started the company with As You Like It in November 2005. The company grew and gained popularity quickly, and now offers FREE theater in Frick, Mellon, and Arsenal parks each autumn.
Tober was approached by an avid fan and radio personality, Kate Borger, about starting a monthly reading group. “We liked the idea right away and immediately one of us came up with the name Bring Your Own Bard, which I think encapsulates exactly what we do. In the city parks, we use only the park as our set, and we tell the story in a very physical way that makes the story immediately clear to the audience. Our emphasis is on the words, and on the unique collaborative relationship among the actors, the language, and the audience,” says Tober.
View our Production History here.
Thank you for your interest in Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks. Please join us for our 2021 season!
Information: 412.404.8531
Bring a blanket, a loved one, and a thermos!
Wish List:
Donations!
Please click the button above to donate using your credit card. Or contact 412.404.8531 or info@pittsburghshakespeare.com or mail your donation to:
PSIP
PO Box 81775
Pittsburgh PA 15217
Thank you for supporting Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks, Pittsburgh’s only outdoor Shakespeare company. PSIP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible.
Get More PSIP Gear!
Order clothing and gear with the PSIP logo or As Yinz Like It right here.
Administrative and Operations
Jennifer Tober, Accessibility Coordinator
New Place Collaborations, Marketing & PR
Sara-Anne Hostoffer, Graphic Design
Catherine Aceto, Photography
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks celebrates 17 seasons of bringing FREE Shakespeare plays to the Steel City!
#seeyouinSeptember