Shakespeare lovers and novices alike had the opportunity to enjoy Shakespeare in the Park for free at Bulldog Park in Crown Point on Friday night. Thanks to the City of Crown Point, Gary Shakespeare Company was able to put on a production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Bulldog Park, with its state-of-the-art amphitheater and ample lawn space, provided an excellent stage for Gary Shakespeare Company to showcase its talents. Many Crown Point residents took advantage of the lawn space using chairs and blankets to get comfortable for the show.
Janice Pritchard, a member of the board of directors for Gary Shakespeare Company, thought that Bulldog Park was the perfect venue for the company.
“This is amazing being able to perform at the different parks throughout Northwest Indiana,” Pritchard said. “Bulldog Park is beautiful; it's a very nice facility.”
Bulldog Park’s facilities allowed actors to wear microphones that were connected to the stage’s large speakers, allowing audience members to clearly hear the play regardless of their chosen seats. The amphitheater also provided stage lights which helped to set the mood for the play.
Gary Shakespeare Company has been performing across Northwest Indiana for the past three weekends. The company plans to still make a stop in Cedar Lake before moving on to finish its summer run at Indiana University Northwest. The company was established in 2013 and is dedicated to bringing actors and audiences of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds together to enjoy the works of Shakespeare.
Autumn Jalageas, a Crown Point resident, attended the event with her whole family, taking advantage of the events that Bulldog Park and the City of Crown Point has to offer this summer.
“We thought it would be a great idea to watch a play in the park,” Jalageas said. “We love having this space. We love all the activities in this community and we love coming to Bulldog Park for all the family fun.”
Bulldog Park provides a place for community gatherings, arts, and festivals to take place. The park gives Crown Point residents, as well as others from around Northwest Indiana, a place to enjoy these community activities.
Dawn Dahlen, a resident of Crown Point, did not see herself as a self-proclaimed Shakespeare lover, but she decided to give “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” a try after hearing about the event.
“I just heard about it on City of Crown Point’s announcements and decided to come check it out,” Dahlen said. “It’s great to have this space to do things like this.”
The event also included a concession stand and a Meraki food truck for audience members to enjoy throughout the night.
To learn more about Gary Shakespeare Company, visit www.garyshakesco.org. To learn more about Bulldog Park and other events offered by the City of Crown Point, visit www.crownpoint.in.gov/320/Bulldog-Park.
