FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK(s)
This production is made possible through donations and sponsorships within the community. We are so grateful for your support of the arts!
Due to impending inclement weather tonight’s performance of The Taming of the Shrew will have an earlier show time of 5pm. All other details of the production remain the same.

PLAN YOUR VISIT:
Select your preferred location in the tabs below to see details about the performance – and ways to RSVP and get updates!
September 4th & 5th, 7:00pm
HOW TO GET TO THE VENUE:
- Columbia Basin Colllege is easily accessible on the 2 and 225 bus lines. CLICK HERE for schedule information!
- Dial-a-Ride: Make a reservation by clicking HERE. All of our showtimes are within the hours of this service!
- If you are arriving by car, there is a parking lot next to the venue. The address is: 2600 N. 20th Avenue, P Building, Pasco, WA 99301
WHAT TO BRING
- The audience areas are grassy lawn; don’t forget your picnic blankets or lawn chairs! Folks with chairs, please be courteous of folks with blankets.
- Bring a picnic or snack to enjoy before or during the show! While your own food is welcome, no alcohol or grills, please.
You can RSVP to our Facebook event if you’d like updates, but this performance is come-one, come all!
September 5th, 2:00pm (Indoors)
HOW TO GET TO THE VENUE:
- Columbia Basin College is easily accessible on the 2 and 225 bus lines. CLICK HERE for schedule information!
- Dial-a-Ride: Make a reservation by clicking HERE. All of our showtimes are within the hours of this service!
- If you are arriving by car, there is a parking lot next to the venue. The address is: 2600 N. 20th Avenue, P Building, Pasco, WA 99301
- When you arrive at the parking lot take the sidewalk into the building courtyard and the theatre doors will be on your right.
You can RSVP to our Facebook event if you’d like updates, but this performance is come-one, come all!
September 11th & 12th, 7:00pm
HOW TO GET TO THE VENUE:
- Bus Route: ROUTE 126 and 110 provide service to the park. Find your schedule by clicking HERE.
- Dial-a-Ride: Make a reservation by clicking HERE. All of our showtimes are within the hours of this service!
- By Car: 500 Amon Park Dr. Richland, WA 99352. Whether heading North or South on George Washington Way in Richland, look for Lee Boulevard. Turn toward the river, then proceed to either parking lot circled below.
WHAT TO DO/BRING BEFORE THE SHOW:
- The audience areas are grassy lawn; don’t forget your picnic blankets or lawn chairs! Folks with chairs, please be courteous of folks with blankets.
- Public Restrooms are located near the Fingernail Stage; on the map below they are labeled the “Lee Blvd. Comfort Station.
- Check out How Sweet It Is, which is right across the street. You can grab a sweet treat before the show! Your own food and beverages are welcome, but please no alcohol or grills.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION: Your Digital Program!
Information about the play and our production will be posted here to bring you even more enjoyment.
Rude Mechanicals Shakespeare in the Park 2026 Taming of the Shrew
Audience Materials by Jess Howard, Cyndi Kimmel, and Sam Page
Who will change to fit the rules, and who will change the rules to fit themselves?
Stuff That Happens in the Induction…
A common barfly, Christopher Sly, is cut off, kicked out, and passes out drunk in the street. A couple of young folks find him and decide to play a prank on Sly by convincing him he is a rich man of the swanky side of town. While the young folks are enacting their prank, a troop of hired thespians arrive to perform a play, and they decide to also convince “Lord Christpher Sly” the play is all for his entertainment.
Stuff That Happens in 5 Acts…
Act 1, Scene 1
A group of 20-somethings have rented a guest house in one of the richest neighborhoods of Bellingham. Two of the friends, Lucentio and Tranio, are enrolled in graduate programs at the university, and the third, Biondello, is along for the ride.
While sitting outside with their late morning coffee, Tranio and Lucentio overhear the homeowner Batista Minola, talking with her daughters (Katharina and Bianca), one of Bianca’s suitors (Hortensio), and her own friend (Filippa), about how to get both daughters married and out of the house. Baptista decrees no one can marry Bianca, “sacred and sweet”, until Kate, “of devilish spirit”, is wed. Lucentio sees the younger daughter, Bianca, and is in love at first sight. The friends hatch a plan to circumvent the courtship rules.
Act 1 Scene 2
Hortensio’s Canadian friend from college, Petra, and her sister, Grumella, arrive in Bellingham to visit him. Hortensio jokes about Petra marrying the elder sister of his love interest and, to his surprise, finds Petra is intrigued. While the three are discussing this outside Hortensio’s house, Batista’s friend Filippa, and Lucentio, in disguise having convinced Filippa he is not a suitor but a potential tutor for Bianca, show up. All decide their separate plans can work together for their interests, some with more cunning intents than others.
Act 2 Scene 1
We see a glimpse into the Minola household, where the sibling rivalry between Kate and Bianca is viewed unevenly by their mother. The schemers arrive in the disguises of their various plans, and Petra meets Katharina and draws her in with attentive banter. Batista agrees to throw a wedding for them in two days’ time.
Act 3 Scene 1:
The tutors enact their schemes: Hortensio disguised as “Licio” the music teacher, and Lucentio disguised as “Cambio” the Latin teacher. In the guise of teaching Bianca their respective subjects, they each deliver their messages of love. Lucentio sees encouragement, and Hortensio finds only disappointment. Christopher Sly is a bit bored with the schemes of courtship and wishes for silliness to return to the story. The prankster assures him it will!
Act 3 Scene 2:
Petra is late to the wedding. Guests wonder if she will arrive at all. When Petra and her sister, Grumella, finally make an appearance they’re oddly dressed and questioned about their sincerity. The party continues however, and the fiancées make their way to the church to wed. Meanwhile, Tranio and Lucentio discuss their next steps while the wedding party is away. Biondello enters to tell their friends about the chaotic events of the wedding. Upon the return of the whole wedding party, Petra insists she and her new bride must leave immediately, despite objections from others in the party, and the reception must happen without the newlyweds. Kate, Petra, and Grumella all leave for Canada, much to the confusion of the others.
Act 4 Scene 1
Hortensio, disguised again as “Licio”, draws in Tranio, disguised as Lucentio, to observe how “Cambio,” (the real Lucentio), is interacting with their mutual crush, Bianca. Hortensio reveals his identity, and Tranio plays along as they vow not to pursue Bianca any longer. With Hortensio gone, Tranio relays the good news to Bianca and Lucentio, celebrating their plan’s success.
Act 4 Scene 2
Hortensio arrives in Canada to visit Petra and Katharina in Canada. He observes their unique and playful dynamic as they and Grumella interact with a tailor and haberdasher. The meaning of it is all, however, is lost in translation.
Act 4 Scene 3
Biondello and Tranio run support for Lucentio and Bianca to elope. Tranio, still in disguise as Lucentio, distracts Batista with discussions of prenuptial agreements. Meanwhile, Biondello prepares the wedding officiant and gets the real Lucentio and Bianca to the church.
Christopher Sly has fallen asleep drunk again, and the friends decide their game has run its course. They resolve to return him to the street where they found him.
Act 4 Scene 4
Petra, Katherina, Grumella and Hortensio travel back to Bellingham. On the way, Katherina and Petra bicker light-heartedly about nonsense while Hortensio is convinced they’re fighting. When Petra “wins the argument,” Hortensio realizes he has seen how to master a household and is ready to marry the woman who expressed interest in him back home.
Act 5 Scene 1
With the job of assisting the elopement between Lucentio and Bianca complete, Tranio and Biondello run off into town to avoid any immediate consequences. Bianca and Lucentio reveal their deception and marriage to Batista, who is overwhelmed and confused by the matter. Petra and Katherina arrive to see this reveal and marvel at what’s happened in their absence.
Act 5 Scene 2
All is forgiven and made well. Lucentio makes a toast to peace, opening his and Bianca’s wedding reception. The party turns to banter and games and in the end, we see different couples: those who are truly set up for happiness, and those constrained by social order.
Sinopsis Español
¿Quién se adaptará a las reglas? ¿Y quién cambiará las reglas para adaptarse a sí mismo?
Cosas que pasan en La Inducción…
Christopher Sly, un borracho típico, es expulsado y se desmaya borracho en la
calle. Un par de jóvenes, Simone Lord y Annina Hunter, lo encuentran y deciden gastarle una
broma a Sly convencerlo de que él es un hombre rico. Mientras los jóvenes están actuando su
broma, una tropa de actores llegan y deciden convencer también a "Lord Christopher Sly" que la
obra de teatro es todo para su entretenimiento.
Cosas que Pasan en 5 Actos…
Acto 1, Escena 1
Un otro grupo de amigos jóvenes alquilan una casa de huéspedes en uno de los barrios
más ricos de Bellingham, WA. Dos de los amigos, Lucentio y Tranio, están estudiantes de
programas de posgrado en la universidad, y el tercero, Biondello, los acompaña en el viaje para
una aventura.
Mientras tomando su café de media mañana en el patio, Tranio y Lucentio oyeron la
propietaria, Señora Batista Minola, hablando con sus hijas (Katharina y Bianca), uno de los
pretendientes de Bianca (Hortensio), y su propia amiga (Filippa), sobre cómo lograr el
matrimonio de ambas hijas. Baptista decreta que nadie puede casarse con Bianca, la hija
“sagrada y dulce”, hasta que Kate, la hija de un "espíritu diabólico", se casa. Lucentio ve a la hija
menor, Bianca, y se enamora inmediatamente. Los amigos crean un plan para escapar las reglas
del cortejo.
Acto 1, Escena 2
La amiga canadiense de Hortensio, Petra, y su hermana, Grumella, llegan a Bellingham a
visitarlo. Hortensio bromea que Petra podría casar con la hermana mayor de su interés amoroso
(Kate) y, asombrosamente, descubre que Petra está intrigada por la idea.
Mientras los tres discuten la idea afuera, Filippa, amiga de Batista, y Lucentio, disfrazado
a Filippa como un tutor para Bianca (no como un pretendiente de ella,) aparecen. Todos deciden
que sus planes separados pueden trabajan juntos, algunos con intenciones más astutos que los de
los otros.
Acto 2, Escena 1
Vemos un vistazo a la casa de las Minola, donde la rivalidad entre las hermanas
diferentes, Kate y Bianca, es vista de forma desigual por su madre. Lucentio and Tranio llegan
disfrazados de sus diversos planes, y Petra conoce a Kate y la atrae con bromas atentas. Batista
acepta organizar una boda entre Petra y Kate dentro de dos días.
Acto 3, Escena 1:
Los tutores ponen en marcha sus planes: Hortensio disfrazado de “Licio”, un profesor de
música, y Lucentio disfrazado de “Cambio”, un profesor de latín. Bajo el pretexto de enseñarle a
Bianca sus temas respectivos, los dos transmiten sus mensajes de amor. Lucentio se anima por la
reacción de Bianca, pero Hortensio solo encuentra decepción. Christopher Sly está un poco
aburrido con los planes del cortejo entre Licio, Cambio, y Bianca, y lo deseo que la tontería
regrese a la historia. ¡Simone Lord le asegura que así será!
Acto 3 Escena 2:
Petra llega tarde a la boda, pero no antes de los invitados se preguntan si llegará. Cuando
Petra y su hermana, Grumella, finalmente llegan, están vestidas de forma extraña y Petra es
interrogada sobre su sinceridad. Sin embargo, la fiesta continúa y Petra y Kate van a la iglesia
para casarse. Mientras tanto, Tranio y Lucentio discuten el próximo parte de su plan mientras la
corte nupcial está en la iglesia. Biondello entra para contar a Tranio y Lucentio los caóticos
acontecimientos de la boda.
Al regresar toda la corte nupcial, Petra insiste en que ella y su nueva esposa deben irse
inmediatamente, a pesar de las objeciones de los otros, y la recepción debe pasar sin
los recién casados. Kate, Petra y Grumella se marchan a Canadá, a la gran confusión de los
otros.
Acto 4, Escena 2
Hortensio, disfrazado otra vez de “Licio”, atrae a Tranio, disfrazado de Lucentio, para
observar cómo “Cambio” (el verdadero Lucentio) interactúa con Bianca. Hortensio revela su
identidad, y Tranio le sigue el juego mientras Hortensio promete no buscar más el amor de
Bianca. Hortensio se marcha, y Tranio comunica la buena noticia a Bianca y el Lucentio
verdadero.
Actor 4, Escena 3
Hortensio llega a Canadá para visitar a Petra y Kate. Él observa la dinámica única y
lúdica entre los dos mientras ellos y Grumella interactúan con un mercero y un sastre. La
importancia de la interacción, sin embargo, está perdido en traducción.
Acto 4 Escena 4
Biondello y Tranio apoyan la fuga de Lucentio y Bianca. Tranio, todavía en
disfrazado de Lucentio, distrae a Batista con discusiones sobre acuerdos prenupciales. Mientras
tanto, Biondello prepara al oficiante de la boda y lleva el verdadero Lucentio y Bianca a la
iglesia. Christopher Sly se queda dormido borracho otra vez. Simone Lord y Annina Hunter
deciden terminar su juego y devuelvan Sly a la calle donde lo encontraron.
Acto 4 Escena 5
Petra, Katherina, Grumella y Hortensio regresan a Bellingham. Durante el viaje,
Katherina y Petra discuten alegremente sobre tonterías mientras Hortensio está convencido de
que están peleando. Cuando Petra “gana la discusión”, Hortensio se da cuenta de que ha visto
cómo dominar un hogar y esposa, y está listo para casarse con la mujer que mostró interés en él.
Acto 5 Escena 1
Tranio y Biondello, finalmente terminan de ayudar en la fuga entre Lucentio y Bianca,
correr al centro de la ciudad para evitar consecuencias inmediatas. Bianca y Lucentio revelan su
engaño y matrimonio a Batista, quien está abrumada y confundida por la noticia. Petra y
Katherina llegan para ver la revelación de la fuga y se maravillan de lo que ha sucedido en su
ausencia.
Acto 5, Escena 2
Todo está perdonado y arreglado. Lucentio empieza la recepción de la boda con un
brindis por la felicidad entre él y Bianca. La fiesta se convierte en una charla amena y juegos, y
al final vemos parejas diferentes: aquellas que están preparadas para la felicidad verdadera, y
aquellas limitadas por el orden social.
Shakespeare’s Wordplay
Verse and Prose
VERSE: Think of it as a heartbeat; text’s metrical rhythm. Shakespeare wrote most of the verse in his plays in iambic pentameter, meaning there are 10 syllables per line – 5 metrical feet, each foot containing 1 unstressed and 1 stressed syllable. Scansion is a valuable performance tool because identifying the stressed syllables can reveal much not only about how the line might be delivered and about the character/s, but also about what words in the line are most important.
PROSE: Think of it as an everyday speaking/reading rhythm. In Shakespeare’s plays, prose may be more casual than verse, and its rhythms are more likely to be specific to a particular character’s way of speaking.
Terms (some, but not all):
- Foot: the basic unit of blank verse, usually two syllables.
- Iamb: a metrical foot containing an unstressed beat, then a stressed beat. A regular heartbeat.
Examples (the bolded syllable is the stressed syllable):
expense, before, admit, compare, degree
A regular line: (10 syllables, broken into a metrical foot of 2, each foot containing an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable)
♥ But soft, | what light| through yon| der win| dow breaks? (Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2)
♥ Go, girl;| I can|not blame| thee now| to weep; (Taming of the Shrew, Act 3, Scene 2)
- Trochee: a metrical foot containing a stressed beat, then an unstressed beat. A backwards heartbeat. Trochees are weird as sometimes the whole line is trochaic, but sometimes only the first foot of the line is so.
Examples (the bolded syllable is the stressed syllable):
beauty, error, vanish, double
A trochaic line: (10 syllables, broken into a metrical foot of 2, each foot containing a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. Remember, trochees are weird; the first example below is a short line containing only 8 (instead of 10) syllables, while the second example starts with a trochee before shifting back into a regular iambic rhythm.
♥ Double, | double, | toil and | trouble (Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1)
♥ Such du| ty as |the sub|ject owes | the prince (Taming of the Shrew, Act 5 Scene 2)
Petra Katie Clark
Katherina Samantha Curtis
Bianca Mary Gray
Batista Dawn Schoepflin
Hortensio Jaren English
Lucentio Kira Shelor-Wooldridge
Tranio Joanne Gropper
Biondello Cheyenne Galbraith
Grumella Bridget Bears
Filippa Heather Miller
Widow Emelia/Hostess/Tailor Cyndi Kimmel
Simone Lord Arlo McGowan
Annina Hunter Anna Poff
Jess Howard/Director
Mariah Cartagena/Assistant Director & Rehearsal Stage Manager
Sam Page/Production Manager
Ronn Campbell/Technical Engineer
Set Designer/Ethan Gotthold
Costume Designer/Sam Page
Props Master/Heidi Dagle
Fight & Intimacy Coordination/Firen & Pierce Williams
Sound Operator/Clara Wycoff
Some folks like to read the script ahead of the show, or use it to follow along during. Click below for a copy of the script.
Taming of the Shrew Script
SPECIAL THANKS to Katie Clark and the following for their support and collaboration in getting the show on the road







