During Tuesday night’s Kentucky Shakespeare tech rehearsal for “The Winter’s Tale,” a tree in Central Park that had been damaged by storms earlier in the evening uprooted and fell -- crushing several rows of benches and piercing a nearby picnic table.
No one was injured.
Sixth District Metro Councilman David James, who represents Old Louisville, arrived shortly after the damage occurred.
“During a normal week, there would have been people sitting there enjoying the Shakespeare performance, but because they were between shows they were doing technical preparations,” James said. “Fortunately, no one was in the seats that were destroyed.”
According to Kentucky Shakespeare’s artistic director, Matt Wallace, the fallen tree damaged about a dozen benches in back of the C. Douglass Ramey Amphitheater in Central Park. Some were the steel permanent benches that the organization had raised funds to install in the park.
But, he said, the show must go on.
“I spoke to the parks department this evening, and they sent somebody by a little while ago to take pictures, and they will be sending out a crew tomorrow so Shakespeare can continue on with their performances,” James said.
Wallace said the Kentucky Shakespeare cast and crew finished tech rehearsals, and that “The Winter’s Tale” will open with a preview on June 16 as planned.
More information about upcoming Kentucky Shakespeare performances is available here.
