Cleveland Shakespeare Festival Returns to James A. Garfield National Historic Site

The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival will return this weekend to  for free performances of two of William Shakespeare's best-known plays.

Theater connoisseurs, literature lovers and anyone else who might enjoy a free show in the park can see Othello at 7 p.m. Saturday and Love's Labour's Lost the same time Sunday.

Othello is the story of the titular Moor, Othello, and his new wife, Desdemona, and how they come to tragic ends at the hands of Othello's duplicitous ensign, Iago.

Love's Labour's Lost is an early Shakespearean comedy about four friends who swear to devote themselves to study instead of women for three years.

The theater troupe will perform both plays outside on the lawn of President James Garfield's Mentor home.

No reservations are required and the performance is free. Moreover, this will be the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival's only performances in Lake County.

Refreshments will be sold at the park. Visitors also are welcome to bring a picnic dinner. However, alcohol is not permitted.

Parking is limited at James A. Garfield National Historic Site, so visitors are asked to park at Mentor Medical Building, 8224 Mentor Ave. A shuttle will transport people to and from the campus parking lot to the park.

While the shows are free, guests certainly can donate to the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival if they so choose.