Park County Arts Council presents

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

“Much Ado About Nothing”
Sunday July 13, 2026 at 6:30pm
Washington Park, Powell

“The Merchant of Venice”
Tuesday July 15, 2026 at 6:30pm
Canal Park, Cody

FREE

The Park County Arts Council is pleased to sponsor this season’s performances by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. This year they bring Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” to Washington Park in Powell on Monday July 13th at 6:30pm and “The Merchant of Venice” to Canal Park in Cody on Wednesday July 15th at 6:30pm. Both performances are free!
Much Ado About Nothing speaks to the joy and uncertainty of love, reputation, and the ways that community shapes our understanding of one another. This lively comedy unfolds in the aftermath of war, where returning soldiers and welcoming hosts find themselves drawn into courtship, clever schemes, and shifting perceptions. Among a vibrant cast of characters, Shakespeare explores how easily we can be misled, and how resilience, honesty, and grace can restore both trust and connection.
Guest director, Johamy Morales was asked “What do you think Shakespeare has to offer its audiences in 2026?” She answered, “In a moment when many communities feel polarized or fatigued, Much Ado About Nothing insists on laughter, music, and communal celebration. The play ends not in division, but in dance. That theatrical act, gathering together, witnessing conflict, and choosing reconciliation models a kind of collective resilience”.
The Merchant of Venice explores justice, mercy, prejudice, and the longing to belong in a divided world. As Bassanio seeks Portia’s hand and Antonio enters a dangerous bond with Shylock, the young Jessica risks everything to leave her father’s house in search of love and freedom. Through romance and courtroom drama, Shakespeare examines the cost of exclusion and the transformative power of mercy.

Director Kevin Asselin replied to the question “what about this story do you think audiences will connect with the most in 2026?” He replied, “People might describe Merchant of Venice as a religious play, but I think it’s a much more global conversation. If Hamlet talks about holding the mirror up to nature, this play gives us the opportunity to hold that mirror up to ourselves and take some accountability. Not as a community, but as individuals and how we view the world, how we judge without understanding, and the reminder that in the end, we are all the same, all human beings. We all feel deeply about what we believe in, we all have relationships that matter to us, and we all struggle with assumption and judgment. If audiences can experience this story and come back to themselves with a deeper understanding of their own behaviors, then I feel this play will be truly successful.”
This summer, the company performs in 64 communities across five states including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, and Washington, serving over 20,000 audience members annually with free performances.
As part of MSIP’s Share Our Stage program, most events will feature pre-show performances by local artists. Cody Community Theatre will offer a pre-show performance in both Powell and Cody starting at 6pm both evenings. Audiences are encouraged to come early, bring a picnic, and enjoy an evening together among friends and neighbors.
Ushering Shakespeare’s immortal stories of life, love, and tragedy into a modern era, MSIP is dedicated to preserving the cultural traditions of theatre and literature through live, professional performances that are free for all people, for all time.
For more information visit: shakespeareIntheparks.org or: http://www.parkcountyartscouncil.org
These performances are sponsored by the Park County Arts Council supported through generous grants from the Wyoming Arts Council funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wyoming State Legislature, Creative West, and donations from people just like you. Thank You!