The Kentucky Shakespeare Festival also called Shakespeare in the Park is an annual summer festival which holds performances of Shakespeare plays for free. It started as the Carriage House Players in 1949. Visitors and tourists averaging from 12 to 15 thousand go to Central Park in Old Louisville. Because of their adage, ?We stand by our firm belief that art is for everyone ? rich, poor, educated, illiterate, healthy or disabled?, the festival has been open to the public for free.

C. Douglas Ramey was the person responsible in the establishment of traditional theatre and cultural education in the vicinity of Louisville. Doug was employed in Chicago when the depression era came. He was schooled at the Goodman School of Drama now known as DePaul University in Chicago. Ramey organized The Carriage House Players, which started as a workshop for actors, who teaches students about acting, voice lessons, and writing plays while learning theatre history. Carriage House is the name of the building at W. Kentucky. Come this summer and take time to witness a play like no other, free of charge!