Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks was started in 2005 by Artistic Director Jennifer Tober, a Pittsburgh actress/director who has appeared in The Queens, Macbeth 3, Salome, The Red Shoes, and directed several shows for PSIP. In 2005 Tober was so inspired by the natural amphitheater at the bottom of the sledding hill in Frick Park in Squirrel Hill that she started the company with As You Like It in November 2005. The company grew and gained popularity quickly, and now offers FREE theater in Frick, Mellon, and Kennard parks each autumn. Tober was approached by an avid fan and radio personality, Kate Borger, about starting a monthly reading group. "We liked the idea right away and immediately one of us came up with the name Bring Your Own Bard, which I think encapsulates exactly what we do. In the city parks, we use only the park as our set, and we tell the story in a very physical way that makes the story immediately clear to the audience. Our emphasis is on the words, and on the unique collaborative relationship among the actors, the language, and the audience," says Tober. Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks' mission: to bring accessible, high quality, free Shakespeare to Pittsburgh Citizens; and to encourage the enjoyment and preservation of our natural public places and parks. Bring a blanket, a loved one, and a thermos!