Midsommer Flight, a company that has brought free performances of Shakespeare’s plays to Chicago Park District parks since 2012, will present a fully staged production of LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST as its 2025 free Shakespeare production. LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, an early comedy by the Bard, tells of the romantic complications that arise from a vow by the King of Navarre and his three noble companions to swear off women for three years so that the men can concentrate on their studies. It proves, understandably, to be a hard vow to honor after the Princess of France and her ladies-in-waiting come to visit. LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST is believed to have been written in the mid-1590’s, a period in which Shakespeare wrote some of his most beloved plays, including ROMEO AND JULIET, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. It can be called a rom com fit for a Queen, as it is believed to have been first performed for Queen Elizabeth I.
Brandon Beach (left), Danielle Kerr (right). Photo by Tom McGrath, TCMcG Photography
Midsommer Flight Founding Artistic Director Beth Wolf (she/her/hers) will direct the comedy, which will be performed over six summer weekends in six different Chicago parks, including a first-time stop in Andersonville’s Winnemac Park at 5100 N. Leavitt. Opening night is Friday, June 27 at 6 pm at Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens, 1801 South Indiana Avenue in the South Loop (Near South Side).
Vanessa Copeland (left), Joshua Pennington (right). Photo by Tom McGrath, TCMcG Photography.
Director Wolf (she/her/hers) announced her cast of 15 and six understudies today. Appearing as Ferdinand, the King of Navarre whose three-year ban on romance sets the action in motion, is Joshua Pennington* (he/they). His noble companions will be played by Travis Ascione (he/him, Dumaine), Brandon Beach (he/him, Berowne), and Dane Brandon (he/they, Longaville). Vanessa Copeland (she/her) will be the Princess who catches the eye of King Ferdinand. Her equally appealing ladies in waiting will be played by Juliet Kang Huneke (she/they, Maria), Danielle Kerr (she/her/hers, Rosaline), and Lydia Moss (she/her, Katherine).
The regular cast also includes Michael Girts (he/him, Constable Dull), Jessica Goforth (she/her, Holofernes), Barry Irving (he/him, Nathaniel), Drew Longo (he/him, Armado), Hayley Rice (she/her, Boyet), Ruby Sevcik (she/her, Jaquenetta), and Travis Shanahan (Costard). Understudies are Dakotah Brown (he/him, Costard/ Nathaniel/ Armado), Triniti Cruz (she/her, Rosaline/Jacquenetta), Henry DelBello (he/him, King, Longaville, Dumaine), Dana Macel (she/her, Boyet/Holofernes), Payton Nesci (he/him, Berowne/Dull), and Ahlora Victoria (she/her, Princess, Maria, Katherine).
Top Row L-R: Travis Ascione, Brandon Beach, Dane Brandon, Vanessa Copeland, Michael Girts.
Second Row L-R: Jessica Goforth, Juliet Kang Huneke, Barry Irving, Danielle Kerr, Drew Longo.
Third Row L-R: Lydia Moss, Joshua Pennington, Hayley Rice, Ruby Sevcik, Travis Shanahan.
Bottom Row L-R: Dakotah Brown, Triniti Cruz, Henry DelBello, Dana Macel, Payton Nesci, Ahlora Victoria.
The LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST production team includes Isa Noe (they/them, Scenic/Props Designer), Rachel M. Sypniewski (she/her/hers, Costume Designer), Jack Morsovillo* (he/him, Composer/Music Director), Ebby Offord* (she/her, Assistant Director), Hailey Piorek (she/her, Stage Manager), Elliott Puckette (she/they, Assistant Stage Manager), Kristina Gramillo (she/her, Production Manager), Meredith Ernst Maryfield (she/her, Text Coach), Sheryl Williams (she/her, Intimacy Director), and Sammi Grant (she/her, Vocal Coach).
*Indicates Midsommer Flight Artistic Ensemble member
Midsommer Flight’s productions are performed in natural sunlight and without amplified sound, much as they were done in the Bard’s day. Midsommer Flight has become one of Chicago’s best-loved and most highly regarded producers of free summer Shakespeare. THIRD COAST REVIEW’s Nancy Bishop, in her 3-1/2 star review of 2024’s ROMEO AND JULIET summed it up by writing, “Is there anything as lovely as theater in the park on a warm summer evening?” Mary Wisniewski, in her NEW CITY review of Midsommer Flight’s 2023 production of CYMBELINE, said, “this Midsommer production offers better Shakespeare…the language was beautiful and delivered with heart. …with Shakespeare, the play has to be more important than the gimmicks. Midsommer remembers that.” Sarz Maxwell of BUZZ CENTER STAGE, in reviewing 2022’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, said “Director/Founder Beth Wolf has brought Midsommer Flight triumphantly through a decade of productions.” Kerry Reid, writing for the CHICAGO READER, said of 2019’s THE TEMPEST, “Wolf’s compact staging comes in at a tidy 90 minutes, but nothing feels rushed here… it wears its ingratiating charms with a light but sure-handed touch.”
LISTING INFORMATION
LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Beth Wolf
June 27 - August 3, 2025
Fridays* and Saturdays at 6 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, Thursday, July 3 at 6 pm
*No performance Friday, July 4
Admission is free (donations gladly accepted)
Opening night – Friday, June 27, 6 pm in Chicago Women’s Park and Garden, 1801 S. Indiana Ave, 60614
Performed in six different Chicago Park District parks
- June 27, 28, 29 at Chicago Women's Park and Garden, 1801 S. Indiana Avenue, 60616
- July 3, 5, 6 at Gross Park, 2708 W Lawrence Avenue, 60625
- July 11, 12, 13 at Nichols Park, 1355 E 53rd Street, 60615
- July 18, 19, 20 at Kelvyn Park, 4438 W Wrightwood, 60639
- July 25, 26, 27 at Winnemac Park, 5100 N Leavitt, 60625
- August 1, 2, 3 at Touhy Park, 7348 N Paulina Avenue, 60626
One of William Shakespeare’s early comedies performed free, outdoors, in six Chicago parks. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on study and fasting. Their subsequent infatuation with the Princess of France and her ladies leads them to break their oath. The play draws on themes of youthful love and desire, reckoning and rationalization, and reality versus fantasy.
Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. Seating is first come, first served, and audience members can bring their own blankets or chairs.
Free Reservations are encouraged but not required. Those with reservations will be contacted in the event of weather cancellations or other last minute updates. Reservations will be available through the Midsommer Flight website at https://midsommerflight.com/loves-labours-lost-2025/ Show information on website at www.midsommerflight.com, including detailed schedule and info about directions and parking at each park.
ABOUT MIDSOMMER FLIGHT. Midsommer Flight is a theatre company dedicated to presenting high quality, accessible productions of Shakespeare’s plays in Chicago communities. After the company’s well-received inaugural production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM in 2012, the Chicago City Council honored Midsommer Flight with a resolution praising “the Midsommer Flight theater troupe on their dedication to bringing the arts to underserved communities.” The company incorporated as a not-for-profit in the state of Illinois in early 2013 and has produced ROMEO AND JULIET (2013,2024), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (2014), MACBETH (2015), TWELFTH NIGHT (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) AS YOU LIKE IT (2016), HAMLET (2017), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (2018), THE TEMPEST (2019), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (2012 AND 2022), and CYMBELINE (2023). The company was nominated in 2019 for the third time for the League of Chicago Theatres “Emerging Theatre Award.”
Midsommer Flight is committed to presenting financially accessible theatre. Productions are 100% free to the public (donations gratefully accepted). Audiences are encouraged to come early and bring a picnic to enjoy this free programming. For more information visit www.midsommerflight.com.
ABOUT NIGHT OUT IN THE PARKS
LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visit www.nightoutintheparks.com.