Bring the Shake Summer Tour to Your Community
Want to bring fun, fast, physical performances to your community? Shake tours in both Arkansas and Upstate New York (with a focus on Western New York and the Finger Lakes). The company specializes in rural and underserved communities.
Shake brings the set, sound, and actors – you just need to provide electricity!
Please email Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) to learn more about booking and fees to bring Shake to your community!
And don’t forget our educational programming!
Shake on the Lake hosts educational programming at K-12 schools through our Groundlings Programs. Classes and workshops can be a day or several weeks.
Please reach out to Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) to learn more or book our educational programming.
What does Shake do?
Shake on the Lake started as a summer outdoor production and has grown into a regional touring company with programming all year long.
Summer Tour
Shake on the Lake performances start in the summer with our Shakespeare Summer Tour. Each year we focus on one of Shakespeare’s classic plays to devise our own Shake on the Lake production. In 90 minutes or less, we present the Bard in accessible, but not watered-down form. These shows can travel and have traveled many miles – communities simply pay our rental fee, and we show up with the set, sound, crew, and actors to perform in your community. The show is designed for outdoor venues.
Learn more about past performances or our most current summer tour.
Please contact Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) if you would like to bring the Summer Tour in your community.
New York State Puppet Festival
In 2018, Shake started to bring New York State Puppet Festival to live and every even year we present contemporary puppetry arts in a ten day festival. Programmed by Producing Artistic Director and Puppet Artist Josh Rice, be prepared for something awesome when you attend a NYSPF event. Learn more about New York State Puppet Festival at the festival website.
Theatre@37
Shake’s home is a storefront theatre at 37 South Main Street in Perry, NY. During the year, the company hosts educational programming and performances including First Friday Programming. Through programs like Shakespeare Reading Club, The Nameless Club, Act III Short performances, and artist residencies – you can enjoy performing, literary, and visual, arts all year round. Learn more about our current events.
If you are interested in renting Theatre@37 for performing arts rehearsals or devising, please email Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org).
In-School Educational Programming – Groundlings Program
Shake has educational programming opportunities for K-12 schools throughout Western New York. Through our Groundlings Program – our experienced teaching artists teach puppetry, improvisation, playwriting, and theatre arts. Often educational programming includes a final performances by students. Workshops can be hourly or a short residency. Please contact Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) if you would like Educational Programming in your community.
Customized Educational Programming – All Ages, Seniors, and Special Audiences
Shake is happy to host programs in your community about puppetry, improvisation, Shakespeare, playwriting, and theatre arts. Workshops can be hourly or a short residency. and can be after working hours. Shake has partnered with libraries, day treatment facilities, and senior living communities. Please contact Linda Franke, Executive Director
(lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) if you would like Educational Programming
in your community.
Voices UnCaged
We have also hosted Voices UnCaged, a program developed by Chad Bradford to bring theatre arts to correctional facilities. With a curriculum focused on students developing their own creative voice, students go from script to show in less than a week and perform for an audience of their peers.
Shake + Agriculture
Shake is developing an exciting Theatre on Farms, an art and agritourism project, to follow our summer tour. Follow along as we develop our first immersive theatre pieces from classic Shakespeare plays like Macbeth and King Lear.
In partnership with playwright Vinny Mraz, Shake is producing The Dairy Farmer Project. This original piece focuses on the Dairy Farmers in the greater Perry area.
Winter Season
We end our season with a holiday classic at our home theatre, Theatre@37. Some years our holiday production is also tours, depending on the show.
Customized Programming
Shake on the Lake is also happy discuss customized programming for your community. If you are thinking of commissioning your own Shakespeare tour, please reach out to us and we’d be happy to talk about our devising and creative process to see if it works with your community. Email Linda Franke, Executive Director (lfranke@shakeonthelake.org) for more information
Interested in Theatre & Education Programming During the Year?
Please check our events page to learn more about what’s going on with Shake outside of our Summer Tour!
2025 Shake Summer Tour
Immerse yourself in the world of William Shakespeare in Shake’s fast, fun, physical style of performance, featuring live music and professional actors. Enjoy idyllic and historic venues throughout Western New York and the Finger Lakes. Bring a lawn chair and experience theatre designed and staged for Shakespeare newbies and Bard aficionados alike!
Appropriate for all audiences.
Approx. Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission
The Tempest toured Western New York and the Finger Lakes July 17 to August 3
2025 Company
MATTHEW J. DUNCAN – Prospero, Puppeteer
AIDAN HEANEY – Miranda, Mariner, Understudy
MADELEINE DAUER – Ariel, Gonzalo
ASH WINKFELD – Caliban, Alonso, Boatswain, Puppeteer
VINNY MRAZ – Stephano, Antonio
TRE’ WHITLEY – Trinculo, Sebastian
TIM COOPER – Ferdinand
2025 Creative Team
Directed by JOSH RICE
Adapted and Devised by THE COMPANY
Original Music by CHAD BRADFORD & TIM COOPER
Assistant Stage Managers GIO MUOLO & AIDAN HEANEY
Set Designer & Builder VINNY MRAZ
Foley Artist TIM COOPER
Production Stage Manager EMILY GRIERSON
Puppet Design CB GOODMAN, JOSH RICE
Costume Designer SHARON COMBS
Costume Constructor NANCY COMBS
2025 Tour Schedule
Week 1
Thursday, July 10
Friday, July 11
Saturday, July 12
Sunday, July 13
Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Monday, July 14
Russellville, Arkansas
Week 2
Thursday, July 17 – 6:30 p.m.
Batavia
Richmond Memorial Library, 19 Ross Street, Batavia, NY 14020
Friday, July 18 – 6:30 p.m.
Hamburg
Memorial Park, 59 Lake Street, Hamburg, NY 14075
Saturday, July 19 – 6:30 p.m.
Naples
Fruition Seeds, 7921 Hickory Bottom Road, Naples, NY 14512
Sunday, July 20 – 2:00 p.m.
Middlesex
Rochester Folk Art Guild, 1445 Upper Hill Road, Middlesex, NY 14507
Week 3
Wednesday, July 23 – 6:30 p.m.
Letchworth State Park
Letchworth State Park Trailside Lodge, 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427
Thursday, July 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Rochester – ASL Interpretation
St. Joseph’s Park, 118 Pleasant Street, Rochester, NY 14604
Friday, July 25 – 6:30 p.m.
Pavilion
Hollwedel Memorial Library (formerly Pavilion Public Library), 5 Woodrow Drive , Pavilion, NY 14525
Saturday, July 26 – 6:30 p.m.
Brockport
Hartwell Hall – on the campus of the College at Brockport, New Campus Drive, Brockport, NY 14420
Sunday, July 27 – 3:00 p.m.
Angelica
Angelica Park Circle, 1 West Main Street, Angelica, NY 14709
Week 4
Wednesday, July 30 – 6:30 p.m.
Wellsville
David A Howe Library, 155 North Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895
Thursday, July 31 – 6:30 p.m.
Geneseo
The Wadsworth Homestead, 4 South Street, Geneseo, NY 14454
Friday, August 1 – 6:30 p.m.
Silver Lake
Perry Public Beach, 42 Walker Road, Perry, NY 14530
Saturday, August 2
Silver Lake
2:00 p.m. – ASL Interpretation Available
6:30 p.m.
Perry Public Beach, 42 Walker Road, Perry, NY 14530
Sunday, August 3 – 3:00 p.m.
Linwood Gardens
Linwood Gardens, 1912 York Road West, Linwood, NY 14486
Shake Performance Gallery
