THE BARD LIVES ON
KENTUCKY SHAKESPEARE ORGANIZATION KEEPS PLAYWRIGHT’S SPIRIT ALIVE
King Lear, photo by Bill Brymer
away in 1979, yet his memory lives on as the theater in Central Park has been dedicated to him and is known as the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater. According to Matt Wallace, Kentucky Shakespeare’s producing artistic director, the idea to present the Shakespearian plays began in 1960 when the St. James Court Art Show invited the company to perform scenes from the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.” Shakespeare Festival in Central Park - 1960s Writer / Julie Engelhardt Photography / Provided
Shakespeare organization that makes its home in Old Louisville’s Central Park.
William Shakespeare is likely familiar to all of us as we may have studied his work in school, recited a monologue from or performed in one of his plays, or had the opportunity to see a stage performance of his work.
Kentucky Shakespeare began as the Carriage House Players back in 1949 as a scene study group founded by C. Douglas Ramey. Ramey hailed from Johnson County, Kentucky, moving to Louisville as a government worker during the Depression. He became a well-respected actor, director Our state is fortunate to have a company of and producer, bringing theater to life for actors, costumers, technicians, directors and three decades in our area. Besides founding producers who bring the works of the Bard the Carriage House Players, Ramey to life every year, free to the public. They organized the Paintsville Little Theater and are members of the long-running Kentucky the Clarksville Little Theater. He passed 10 / JULY 2021
“That was the seed for free Shakespeare in the Park,” Wallace says. “Then in the following year, Ramey produced a threeshow season and called it a festival, which was the beginning of what patrons can see today. This is our 61st year. We believe Shakespeare belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford a ticket. For us it’s all about removing barriers between people and art, in many different ways.” There are “three buckets” to what the company presents. This includes their educational programs for students ages three and older, their community outreach, and their free Shakespeare in the Park presentations. In 2019, prior to the pandemic and having
