The Schmeeckle Amphitheater. (Contributed)

Shakespeare returns to Schmeeckle, courtesy of cwACT

By Brandi Makuski

Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater will bring Shakespeare back to the woods this summer with the return of its annual Schmeeckle Shakes production.

The nonprofit theater group announced it will present William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” Aug. 13-16 at Schmeeckle Reserve in Stevens Point, marking the sixth year of the outdoor theater series.

This year’s production will feature a New Orleans-style jazz theme through a collaboration with Central Wisconsin’s Traditions of Jazz. Audience members will be entertained by The Joyful Little Band before and during the event, and organizers also hope to feature the group’s educational ensemble, the Joyful Little Brass Band, before each performance.

“As You Like It” follows Rosalind, who is banished from court and escapes to the Forest of Arden, where mistaken identities, romance and self-discovery unfold in one of Shakespeare’s best-known comedies.

A special opening banquet will be held Friday, Aug. 14, before that evening’s performance. The event begins at 5 p.m. and will feature a New Orleans-style barbecue dinner and live music by The Joyful Little Band. Tickets for the banquet and performance are $40, and dinner reservations must be made by Aug. 5.

Performance dates are:

  • Thursday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 15, at 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m.

General admission tickets are $22 for adults, $17 for seniors ages 55 and older and children 12 and younger, and $11 for veterans.

Schmeeckle Shakes is sponsored by the Friends of Schmeeckle and has brought outdoor Shakespeare performances to the reserve since 2021.

The Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater, known as cwACT, is a nonprofit organization that produces community theater, improv comedy, karaoke and other live entertainment throughout the year.

Tickets and additional information are available at https://cwact.org/tickets/ and the theater’s 2026-27 season information can be found at https://cwact.org/2026-27-season/.