Shakespeare in the Park comes to Libby

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks was at Libby Elementary School Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, part of its five-state tour for its 53rd season. The troupe is a part of Montana State University’s College of Arts and Architecture, performing William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It" and "Henry V." 

The shows are free and open to the public. 

The group also performed in North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. When they are done on their home stage Sept. 9 at Duck Pond, they will have put on 79 performances in 65 rural communities.

In a way, it feels like coming home, said Kevin Asselin, executive artistic director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks.  

The program provides performances for rural communities and grade schools that might not otherwise have access to free theater of MSIP’s quality and scope. It is one of the largest and oldest Shakespeare companies in the United States, Asselin said.

“Giving young people the opportunity to experience these shows is the cornerstone of what we do and is the reason we’re still around after five decades,” he said.