DETROIT—Shakespeare in Detroit (SiD) will close its 2017 season with free performances of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet July 14-16, 2017 at New Center Park in Detroit, directed by Dean Gabourie, ACME Theatre Co. founder (Toronto, ON) and former associate artistic director at Stratford Festival (Stratford, ON).

Gabourie is looking forward to directing the show at the park where SiD created a tradition of outdoor theatre in the city proper. “Hamlet is a play about older generations trying to control, cajole and manipulate younger generations as those younger generations are at their most vulnerable, when they are trying to define themselves.  It is the definitive play about ‘do what I say and not what I do’” says Gabourie. “With Cal Schwartz’s incredible costume design and the beautifully urban setting of New Center Park we will bring Detroit a Hamlet that is set in the distant past, or perhaps, the not too distant future. Our question, is a society that loses its collective memory doomed to repeat their past?  To be or…? We look forward to answering this question with you.”

​The introduction of an international director is an important component to SiD’s plans for growth over the next 3-to-5 years.  “Bringing talent to Detroit to direct, train and work with our local artists is crucial to our trajectory and long-term plans to become the premiere Shakespeare company here in Detroit,” says Sam White, SiD’s founding artistic and executive director, and the current Paul Nicholson Fellow at the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival. “This is also our last summer at New Center Park as we move into a new location next summer to accommodate our vision for a more expansive, professional production in our hometown.”

Showtimes are Friday, July 14 at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, July 16 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and audience members are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets. No photos, video or outside food and beverage.

Photo by Chuk Nowak, featuring SiD Company Member, Dante Jones.