Hamlet | Sunday, September 29, 2024 at 7:30pm
Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, Hamlet, presented under the stars this fall in our beautiful Shakespeare Gardens outdoor theatre.
Date and time
Location
Oklahoma Shakespeare
2920 Paseo Oklahoma City, OK 73103Refund Policy
About this event
Following the untimely marriage of his uncle, Claudius, to his mother, Gertrude, the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, is visited by the ghost of his deceased father, whom he learns was murdered by his uncle. Hamlet vows revenge upon Claudius, and soon his sadness turns to manic behavior, threatening to disrupt the fragile peace under the kingdom's new ruler, while war with Norway looms on the horizon.
Hamlet is derailed and distracted along the way to his revenge by his doubt as to the ghost's authenticity, as well as the love he holds for Ophelia, daughter to Polonius, and advisor to the King & Queen. Ophelia is used by her father and the King to attempt to get behind Hamlet's behavior, as Claudius begins to suspect he may know more than he is letting on.
Meanwhile, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern, Hamlet's friends from school, are summoned by the King & Queen in hopes of bringing Hamlet out of his melancholy and uncovering the reason for his madness. Hamlet soon discovers they are not visiting of their own accord and begins to suspect everyone ... eventually leading him to an elaborate plot which he calls, "The Mousetrap," a play within our play designed to catch King Claudius out and expose him as the murderer.
The plot works, King Claudius all but gives himself up to Hamlet, and is overheard confessing his sins; but Hamlet, summoned to and en route to his mother's bedchamber, is unable to take the King's life while he repents, elects instead to "trip" him while on his worst behavior.
In his mother's bedchamber, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius in a fit of rage and is visited once more by the ghost of his dead father. Hamlet, now a real threat to Claudius and his crown, is shipped off to England, with the intent of his execution in a sealed letter carried by Rosencrantz & Guildenstern.
Ophelia, meanwhile, learns of her father's murder at the hands of her boyfriend, and loses her mind. Her brother, Laertes, returns home from school with murderous intent towards Hamlet, and a broken heart for Ophelia, who eventually drowns herself in a brook, taken down by the weeds and flowers she adored in her life.
Hamlet escapes the execution plot, returns to Denmark, and learns of Ophelia's death, only to be challenged by Laertes to a duel. Unbeknownst to Hamlet, Laertes has joined with Claudius to murder him in the duel and, when the day arrives, mayhem and murder ensue...
Shakespeare's iconic tragedy, staged outdoors under the stars in our beautiful Shakespeare Gardens amphitheater. You will not want to miss this epic tale of murder most foul.
PLEASE NOTE: Ticket Pricing & Policies — Oklahoma Shakespeare (okshakes.org)
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions — Oklahoma Shakespeare (okshakes.org)
Frequently asked questions
We believe theatre is inclusive and communal. We welcome you to our neighborhood, and hope you enjoy your time here. You are encouraged to dress to your style, and to feel comfortable bringing your authentic self to our home, and we rely on you to allow others to do the same.
The Box Office opens one-hour before curtain, and tickets may be purchased or picked up at that time. House seating for the Shakespeare Gardens begins 45-minutes prior to curtain. House seating for the Black Box begins 30-minutes prior to curtain. Patrons may wait in the lobby prior to House open.
We are located in the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City. Our address is 2920 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103. We have a 55-seat indoor Black Box theatre, and a 200-seat outdoor theatre, named The Shakespeare Gardens, directly behind our building. Access is granted to both through our front door.
Parking is limited in the Paseo, so we encourage you to arrive 20-30 minutes early. Patrons arriving late will be seated at the discretion of House Management. There are no refunds for late arrivals or missed performances.
Our outdoor venue is “Picnic Friendly,” and we encourage you to bring the food of your choice, but we do not allow outside beverages. We offer service in The Mermaid Tavern, selling both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks. No outside food is permitted in the Black Box.
RESERVED PATIO SEATING - chair, cushion, and table provided. LAWN GENERAL ADMISSION - bring your own lawn chair or blanket or rent one from us (supplies limited). Chair seating towards the rear and sides, blankets down front. Space is limited, so be prepared to adjust your position, if requested.
Indoor seating is provided on cushioned theatre seats and is reserved.
Oklahoma Shakespeare will not cancel on the prediction of rain. Performances are cancelled only when adverse conditions persist during the scheduled performance time. In the event of a rainout, “Rain Checks” will be offered to patrons in attendance.
Please, out of respect for our performers, and your fellow patrons, do not attempt to record or photograph actors during the performance. Violators of this policy may be asked to leave. Photos and videos may be taken at other times, and we encourage you to share and tag #okshakespeare.
We welcome children of any age to The Shakespeare Gardens, but limit admission to those age 7 or older for indoor performances, with the special exception of our Christmas show, for which children of all ages are encouraged to attend! Please review our "Content Guide" for patron age suitability.
Shakespeare loved dogs, and we do, too; but unfortunately, we don't have the facility to accommodate them, at this time, so please leave your puppers at home. Service animals with tags or medallions are welcome.
Organized by
Oklahoma's Professional Classical Theatre since 1985, celebrating our newly renovated home in the historic Paseo Arts District, OKC!