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), William Ragsdale (Fright Night, Herman’s Head), and our 2027 Guest Star – Charisma Carpenter (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel), 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.
Check back here for updates on the 2027 FREE Shakespeare in the Park Festival – February 25 – 28, 2027 at Cascades Park.
Charisma Carpenter (Celebrity Guest Star, The Merry Wives of Windsor)
With more than three decades of performance and direct fan engagement, Charisma Carpenter has built a career at the intersection of entertainment, entrepreneurship, and authentic community building.
She is the host of The Bitch Is Back! podcast, which serves as the foundation for both her creative and entrepreneurial work. Through the podcast, Carpenter explores legacy entertainment properties—including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel—while leading broader conversations about fan culture, nostalgia-driven media, and the enduring connection between audiences and the stories they continue to champion. The show features behind-the-scenes discussions with former cast members, notable voices in popular culture, and leading television critics.
Carpenter is also the founder of MyCon.Live, an innovative virtual fan convention platform designed to redefine the relationship between talent and audiences through recurring engagement, creator accessibility, and authentic interaction. Built on the belief that lasting fan communities are rooted in trust and meaningful participation, MyCon.Live reflects Carpenter’s commitment to creating sustainable, community-driven fan experiences.
Her experience spans the performing arts, brand development, live audience engagement, digital content strategy, and entrepreneurial leadership, positioning her at the forefront of entertainment, technology, and fan-driven commerce.
Carpenter is internationally recognized for her iconic portrayal of Cordelia Chase on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, roles that continue to resonate with audiences around the world.