Hilo Community Players
Shakespeare in the Park: More Than 40 Years of Tradition
Our History
Hilo Community Players’ Shakespeare in the Park began in 1978 as an idea of Jackie Pualani Johnson. This year marks our 44th year presenting Shakespeare in the Park in Hilo. Despite a global pandemic, in 2020, we were still able to safely offer this festival by converting Shakespeare in the Park, to a live drive-in event, Shakespeare in the Park…ing Lot.
In 2014, we added a tradition of youth programming to our festival, affectionately referred to as “kid-shakes.” In 2020, to keep our youth safe, we produced and presented a keiki-friendly Shakespeare adaptation entirely virtually!
Click on the images to access virtual presentations of our 2020 Shakespeare in the Park productions!
Past Shakespeare in the Park Festivals
1978
A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Directed by Jackie Debus Johnson
1979
The Tempest - Directed by Jackie Debus Johnson
1980
The Taming of the Shrew - Directed by Helie Rock
1981
As You Like It - Directed by Peter Franklin Schickler
1982
Hamlet - Directed by Peter Franklin Schickler
1983
Romeo & Juliet - Directed by Julian Canuso
1984
The Comedy of Errors - Directed by Don Moody
1985
Othello - Directed by John Koch
1986
Twelfth Night - Directed by Peter Charlot
1987
Julius Caesar - Directed by Paul Mark Clark
1988
The Merry Wives of Windsor - Directed by Margaret Harshberger
1989
Antony & Cleopatra - Directed by Pru Sillito
1990
The Merchant of Venice - Directed by Julian Canuso
1991
The Tragedy of Richard II - Directed by Don Moody
1992
King Henry IV-Part 1 - Directed by Paul Mark Clark
1993
King Henry IV-Part 2 - Directed by Beth Kucharczyk
1994
King Henry V - Directed by Robin Hilliard
1995
Two Gentlemen of Verona - Directed by Laura Andres
1996
The Tragedy of Richard III - Directed by Jackie Seaquist
1997
Measure for Measure - Directed by Don Moody
1998
Macbeth - Directed by Jackie Pualani Johnson
1999
The Winter's Tale - Directed by Cathy Punch
2000
Titus Andronicu - Directed by Catherine McPherson & Sharon Furstenworth
2001
King Lear - Directed by Paul Mark Clark
2002
One Uddah Mid'Summah - Directed by Jackie Pualani Johnson
2003
Much Ado About Nothing - Directed by Justina Mattos
2004
Romeo & Juliet - Directed by Cathy Punch
2005
Twelfth Night - Directed by Laura Andres
2006
The Tempest - Directed by Randy Raphael
2007
The Best of the Bard - Multiple Directors
2008
Hamlet - Directed by Laura Andres
2009
The Taming of the Shrew - Directed by Randy Raphael
2010
Love's Labour Lost - Directed by Amy Jackson
2011
The Merchant of Venice - Directed by Catherine McPherson
2012
Richard III - Directed by Jackie Pualani Johnson
2013
As You Like It - Directed by Laura Caswell
2014
Antony & Cleopatra - Directed by Jake McPherson & Dr. Justina T. Mattos
This is Hamlet written by Tim Brownell - Directed by Jackie Pualani Johnson
2015
Measure for Measure - Directed by Rob Hunt
I Hate Shakespeare written by Steph DeFerie - Directed by Alston Albarado
2016
A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Directed by Justine Thompson
Romeo To Go written by Jonathan Rand - Directed by Leah Wilson
2017
The Best of the Bard Too - Multiple Directors
MmmBeth written by Allison Williams - Directed by Mimi Tincher
2018
The Merry Wives of Windsor - Directed by Catherine McPherson-Tampos
Lions In Ilyria written by Robert Kauzlaric - Directed by Alston Albarado
2019
Hamlet - Directed by Catherine Williams
Hamajang Hamlet, written by Jackie Pualani Johnson - Directed by Angie Nakamura
2020
Othello (Shakespeare in the Park...ing Lot) - Directed by Sarah Elliott
Oh, Hello! (Virtual Production) written by Dr. Justina T. Mattos - Directed by Alston Albarado
2021
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