DelShakes summer programming is (mostly) virtual

If you’re hoping to catch a Delaware Shakespeare in-person event this summer, good luck: DelShakes is mostly virtual this year, with a festival of creative online events.

On Aug. 1, the arts org will hold the “Soliloquy Stroll” at Rockwood, where just two small groups of up to four can walk through the park and see a site-specific collection of monologues performed in a physically distanced manner. Because the in-person event is so extremely limited, it sold out in less than a day. Those interested in the event have the option to attend virtually, or they can keep an eye on DelShakes’ website for news on potential added performances. (If you do manage to snag tickets to the in-person event and feel sick on the day of, they will issue a refund.)

It’s part of DelShakes’ {Mostly} Virtual Festival, which spans three weeks across July and August and includes talks about the creative process, a backyard picnic contest and a discussion focusing on restorative justice. Virtual events are free unless otherwise noted and include:

• Friday, July 17, at 7:30 p.m. — Becoming Prospero
  “The Tempest” director David Stradley and actor Jolie Garrett (Prospero) discuss the first scene of the play.
• Saturday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m. — Janssen’s Picnic Contest Launch Party
  Participants are encouraged to stream five Shakespeare culinary monologues while having a picnic in their backyard, like they would for a DelShakes play at Rockwood. Share pics of the Shakespeare-inspired picnics tagged #DelShakes, and you might win a $50 Janssen’s gift card!
• Sunday, July 19, at 5 p.m. — Family Sunday #1
  Cassie Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.
• Friday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m. — Two Bald Guys Direct “The Tempest“
  Santa Cruz Shakespeare Artistic Director Mike Ryan and Del Shakes’ Stradley discuss the visions for their temporarily postponed productions of “The Tempest.”
• Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. — Matinee: Selena and Greg Get Engaged! Much Ado About Something
  Founding Managing Director Greg Robleto and Selena Robleto tell the story of Greg’s surprise proposal on the opening night of 2006’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”
• Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. — Wine and Cheese Party ($15 for video program, plus wine and cheese)
  Buy a curated selection of wine from Swigg and cheese from Janssen’s for this private Zoom meeting of Tempest-themed monologues connected to the wine and cheese
• Sunday, July 26, at 5 p.m. — Family Sunday #2
  Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.
• Friday, July 31, at 7:30 p.m. — Restorative Justice and “The Tempest”
  Representatives from community restorative justice organizations join Stradley to discuss restorative justice and its connections to Shakespeare’s play about forgiveness.
• Sunday, Aug. 3 — at 5 p.m. — Family Sunday #3
  Alexander reads a Shakespeare children’s book and leads a drama game.

In addition, DelShakes’ “Sonnet of the Day” will continue through July 31, and there will be games and “fun facts” posted on the org’s social media.