Shakespeare in the Park
About the Festival
The Southern Shakespeare Company’s FREE Shakespeare in the Park Festival invites an annual audience of up to 10,000 over a four-day weekend to enjoy the fun and fanfare as we bring stunning Shakespeare productions to Cascades Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
This event invites well-known celebrities like Emmy award winner Kelsey Scott (12 Years a Slave, The Walking Dead), comedian Kevin McDonald (The Kids in the Hall, Lilo & Stitch), Wil Johnson (The House of the Dragon, Outlander), and our 2026 Guest Star, William Ragsdale (Fright Night, Herman’s Head), to perform William Shakespeare’s classics in Florida’s capital city!
Modeled after Joe Papp’s Free Shakespeare in the Park in New York City, this is a family-friendly event, inviting audiences from all around the Southeast and beyond to enjoy food and libations under the stars with Free Shakespeare at Cascades Park.
Tallahassee arts lovers, clear your calendars: Southern Shakespeare Company is about to make February sizzle! In a bold move that cements its reputation as a trailblazer in regional theater, SSC is shifting its beloved Shakespeare in the Park Festival from May to the milder nights of Feb. 19-22, 2026.
This calendar leap is emblematic of SSC’s fearless spirit as it reinvents tradition. The same community-centered ethos remains at the heart of Shakespeare in the Park: every performance is open to all. Think warm blankets under clear skies, wondrous pageantry beneath the stars, and all the magic of Shakespeare — from the comfort of an ideal winter evening.
This year, with the move to February, audiences will be swept away by The Tempest in the Adderley Amphitheater. Prospero’s commands, Ariel’s flights, and Caliban’s brooding spirit will swirl around Cascades Park like a theatrical tornado — inviting us all to surrender to wonder.
Check out the 2026 Shakespeare in the Park Festival updates below!
2026 festival schedule at a glance
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| Thursday, Feb. 19 – Opening Night! |
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| Friday, Feb. 20 |
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| Saturday, Feb. 21 – ASL Interpreted Performance |
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| Sunday, Feb. 22 – Final Performance/ASL Interpreted Performance |
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Kids Kingdom
👑✨ NEW Kids Kingdom comes to the 2026 FREE Shakespeare in the Park Festival! ✨👑
On Feb. 21 & 22 at Cascades Park, bring the whole family for an afternoon of adventure, creativity, and royal fun starting at 4 PM!
⚔️ Meet a Knight
🎨 FREE face painting & henna tattoos
🖍️ Arts & crafts and hands-on activities
🍔 Delicious food trucks serving great food and drinks
Then at 5:30 PM, cheer on our incredible young performers as the Bardlings present their one-hour adaptation of The Winter’s Tale—a magical story of jealousy, friendship, forgiveness, and second chances, brought to life by Tallahassee’s rising stars.
It’s the perfect family outing: play, eat, explore… and experience Shakespeare together under the oaks at Cascades Park. 🌳
Accessibility: Touch Tours &
ASL-Interpreted Performances
SSC is committed to welcoming everyone.
Touch Tours: Guided, hands-on experiences on Feb. 21 and 22 for blind and partially sighted audience members to explore sets, costumes, and props before the performances. RSVP to Will@southernshakes.org.
ASL-Interpreted Performances: The Feb. 21 performance The Tempest and the Feb. 22 performance of The Winter’s Tale will feature American Sign Language interpretation for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons.
Rain Plan
Rain Plan for The Tempest
We love a little theatrical magic… but if we happen to conjure too big a storm at the Festival, fear not! Should weather roll in, we will move our performance indoors to the wonderful Tallahassee Theatre so the show can go on safely and comfortably.
Same incredible cast.
Same island intrigue.
Just a roof over our heads.
Stay tuned to our social channels for updates if skies turn dramatic — Prospero may command the winds, but we’ve got a backup plan.
Meet the casts
Meet the cast of The Tempest and explore the unforgettable characters they bring to life in our 2026 Shakespeare in the Park Festival production.
Prospero – William Ragsdale (Celebrity Guest Artist)
As the powerful sorcerer Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, William Ragsdale anchors The Tempest with authority, intellect, and emotional depth. Ragsdale brings decades of stage and screen experience to this commanding role.
Miranda – Daily Forsmans
Miranda, Prospero’s daughter, is the heart of The Tempest—curious, compassionate, and encountering the wider world for the first time. Former Bardling Daily Forsmans returns to the festival, stepping onto the mainstage with grace and emotional clarity.
Ferdinand – Grant Williamson
Ferdinand, the Prince of Naples, embodies hope, devotion, and the possibility of renewal after the storm. Grant Williamson returns to Southern Shakespeare Company after appearing as Water in the 2025 production of Shakespeare’s Cosmos.
Ariel – Mason Taylor
Ariel, the magical spirit bound to Prospero’s service, moves fluidly between playfulness and power. Mason Taylor makes his Southern Shakespeare Company debut in this ethereal role, bringing energy and imagination to one of Shakespeare’s most iconic characters.
Caliban – Matt Thompson
Caliban, the island’s original inhabitant, is fierce, wounded, and deeply human beneath his rage. SSC regular Matt Thompson returns to the festival stage following memorable performances in Twelfth Night, Henry IV, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Antony & Cleopatra, multiple Bar(d) Crawls, and SSC’s five-actor productions of Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet.
Alonsa, Queen of Naples – Cameron Feagin
Alonsa, reimagined here as the Queen of Naples, carries grief, authority, and political weight in the wake of the storm. Cameron Feagin makes her Southern Shakespeare Company debut in this regal and emotionally grounded role.
Sebastian – Gabriel Martinez
Sebastian, the sharp-tongued brother of Alonsa, schemes his way through the island’s chaos with biting wit. Gabriel Martinez returns to SSC after standout performances as Lord Capulet and Mercutio in the five-actor Romeo & Juliet.
Antonio – Nate Williamson
Antonio, Prospero’s treacherous brother, is one of Shakespeare’s most unrepentant villains. Nate Williamson brings menace and charisma to the role as a Southern Shakespeare audience favorite – and starring alongside his son, Grant!
Gonzalo – John Campana
Gonzalo, the idealistic counselor, offers humor, humanity, and hope amid betrayal and ambition. John Campana returns to SSC after appearing in multiple roles during last year’s Bar(d) Crawl.
Trinculo – Nahum Hagos
Trinculo, the shipwrecked jester, delivers much of The Tempest’s physical comedy and absurdity. Nahum returns to SSC after playing Horatio, the Gravedigger, and other roles in the five-actor Hamlet.
Stephano – Brian Simmons
Stephano, a drunken but dangerous opportunist, adds comic chaos to the island’s uneasy power struggle. Brian Simmons makes his Southern Shakespeare Company debut in this boisterous role.
Boatswain – Carter Nelson
The Boatswain, whose defiance opens the play amid the storm, embodies order and survival in chaos. Carter Nelson returns to SSC after performances as Romeo in the five-actor Romeo & Juliet and in last summer’s Henry IV, and currently serves as the student representative on SSC’s Board of Directors.
Juno – Keira Lashay
Juno, queen of the gods, presides over the union of Miranda and Ferdinand with majesty and blessing, embodying harmony and protection. Keira Lashay makes her Southern Shakespeare Company debut in this luminous role.
Ceres – Samantha “Sam” Renee
Ceres, goddess of the harvest, brings warmth, abundance, and grace to the union of Miranda and Ferdinand. Sam returns to SSC after performances in the five-actor Romeo & Juliet and Shakespeare Night Live.
Iris – Maddie Rainer
Iris, messenger of the gods, weaves the union of Miranda and Ferdinand together with energy and elegance. Maddie Rainer returns to SSC following powerful turns as Gertrude and Ophelia in the five-actor Hamlet.
Meet the Bardlings cast of The Winter’s Tale and discover the young performers bringing Shakespeare’s tale of loss, wonder, and redemption to life at the 2026 Shakespeare in the Park Festival.
Archidamus/Shepherd – Estelle L.
Camillo – Audie W.
Leontes – Isaac M.
Hermione – Willow B.
Mamillius/Time – Xavi D.
Polixenes/Antigonus – Rafael C.
Emilia/Gentlewoman/Servant/
Gaoler/Officer – Alice M.
Paulina – Hadlee S.
Cleomenes – Drew J.
Dion/Dorcas – Quinn F.
Mariner/Mopsa – Haiden S.
Clown – Thomas S.
Autolycus – Miriam H.
Perdita – Robin M.
Florizel – Zade S.
TALLAHASSEE CELEBRITY GUESTS
Alan Hanstein (Feb. 19 Guest) is the Executive Director for the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee, the K-12 Outreach Center for the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering . He is responsible for all aspects of Center operation, including the IMAX Theatre, Planetarium, Education Programs, and Community Outreach. Growing up in a suburb of New York City, his love of science, discovery, and exploration was cultivated at a young age by visiting the Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium. Hanstein saw his first IMAX film, To Fly!, at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum the year it opened and this started his love for all things aviation. His goal is to make science and the exploration of the universe open and available to everyone. After a successful 30 year career in technology and event logistics, Hanstein joined the Challenger Center as Director in 2022. He lives in Tallahassee, Florida with his wife, Amy and has two adult children and a beagle named buddy!
Greg Tish (Feb. 20 Guest) is the host of The Greg Tish Show — Tallahassee’s Morning Show — heard weekday mornings on WVFT Real Talk 93.3 FM and streaming live across multiple platforms. Known for his quick wit, genuine personality, and deep love for his hometown, Greg brings together community leaders, local businesses, and everyday Tallahassee voices in one place where everyone feels welcome.
With years of experience in broadcasting, Greg has built a show that celebrates what makes Tallahassee unique — from its people and politics to sports, culture, and good conversation. The Greg Tish Show isn’t just talk radio; it’s a community platform that amplifies real stories, local perspectives, and the energy that keeps North Florida moving.
Jessica Lowe-Minor (Feb. 21 Guest) is the President of the League of Women Voters of Florida, and she is so excited to be participating as a cameo guest in this year’s production of The Tempest. A graduate of FSU’s School of Theatre, she has also performed in SSC’s A Town Divided (Sarah), Julius Caesar (Calpurnia), A Mini Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peter Quince, Snug), As You Like It (Celia), and Romeo and Juliet (Ensemble). She hopes everyone enjoys tonight’s show, and encourages audience members to visit Vote411.org to check their voter registration status and access nonpartisan election information. Her mantra for 2026 is Keep Calm & Vote.
Talethia O. Edwards (Feb. 22 Guest) is a nonprofit executive, community advocate, and longtime Tallahassee resident running for Tallahassee City Commission, Seat 3. She serves as Executive Director of Good News Outreach. Talethia is also CEO of Toedwards Community Development Consulting LLC, supporting equitable development and community engagement across Florida. A Miami native, mother, and civic leader, she has helped bring millions in investment to underserved neighborhoods. Talethia is committed to people-centered leadership that prioritizes safe neighborhoods, economic opportunity, and transparent local government.