There’s still time to catch one of Northeast Stage’s annual Shakespeare in the Park performances, with plenty of upcoming shows on tap.
This year, the North Fork-based theater group is presenting one of the iconic playwright’s problem plays — All’s Well That Ends Well — described by actor, director, producer and sound designer Nicholas Auletti as a “hidden gem within the Shakespeare oeuvre.”
Having performed free shows around Long Island starting July 11, Northeast Stage returns to the East End on July 20 at 7 p.m. for a show at Westhampton Beach Village Gazebo (9 Beach Road, Westhampton Beach); July 23 at 7 p.m. for a show at Grangebel Park (Peconic Avenue, Riverhead); and, to close the series, shows on July 24, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. in Mitchell Park (115 Front St., Greenport).
“What I love is the community,” says Auletti. “And destigmatizing Shakespeare and making sure Shakespeare is accessible to everybody — it doesn’t matter class, race, creed, ability — Shakespeare is for all.”
Traditionally, All’s Well That Ends Well tells the story of Helen, who is vying for Bertram, a man who doesn’t return her affections and flees to the Tuscan wars to avoid her.
If you’ve seen the production before, throw away what you know, as Auletti and his cast, including Jennifer Baptist, Veronica Spaeth, Jesse Meehan and many other talented actors, have brought a feminist take to the work. They’ve also added a reckoning element to the cat-and-mouse themed show through text work and performance tactics.
“It wasn’t labeled a dark comedy back in the day because nobody knew what a dark comedy was back in that time,” says Auletti. “It was a problem [play], and we sort of turned it on its head.”
Shakespeare in the Park rehearsals earlier this year. (Photo credit: Nicholas Auletti)
Auletti joined Northeast Stage in 2023 and has been part of their previous Shakespeare in the Park productions, including Macbeth, Hamlet and Othello.
Before his time with the organization and despite his extensive career in the arts, Auletti wasn’t a huge Shakespeare fan. Since joining Northeast Stage, his appreciation for the playwright’s work has changed drastically.
“I learned about what Shakespeare in the Park is, which is this giant megillah that you kind of have to combat and fight and adapt,” says Auletti. “It’s ginormous, but I love the challenge.”
Learn more about the upcoming shows and see rain date and location details here.
