Burien residents can enjoy free Shakespearean performances this summer, thanks to the collaborative efforts of local non-profit arts organizations and the city's Parks Department.

GreenStage, which boasts acting and directing talents of Burien and SeaTac natives, will present The Two Gentlemen of Verona on Saturday, July 28, at 7 p.m. and Richard III on Saturday August 4, at 7 p.m.

Both performances will be staged in Dottie Harper Park, 421 S.W. 146th St. Parking is available at the Burien Community Center.

Since 1998, GreenStage has been working through Shakespeare's eight historical plays in chronological order, ending with Richard III this year.

Burien resident Mark McQuinn was hoping to say he had been in all of them, but when artistic director and production manager Ken Holmes offered McQuinn and his dog Smokey parts in Shakespeare's comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, he couldn't resist the chance to act side by side with his beloved canine.

Smokey, who plays Crab, the only dog in a Shakespearean play, is a natural. A lab/mastiff mix, "Smokey is good at not getting distracted by crowds," McQuinn said.

He plays Launce in Two Gentlemen.

He said his acting career started when a friend asked him to play a pennywhistle in a play. He also plays the recorder in performances and said his silent roles have gradually progressed to roles with more lines.

Holmes, the SeaTac resident directing Two Gentlemen, has been involved with GreenStage since the mid 90s. He said the part of Launce is perfect for McQuinn because the character will do anything for his dog.

Since all of GreenStage's summer performances are free and are held in parks around the Puget Sound, Holmes said many audience members don't necessarily plan to attend but just happen to be walking through a park.

Audiences can be as large as 600 people, depending upon the venue and the weather, he added.

"I believe many people like theater a lot - they just don't realize it," said Holmes.

In the United States, theater is "put up on a pedestal. That makes theater "not approachable" to many people, and the audience is supposed "to get culture. One is not supposed to enjoy it."

There is also a cultural notion that theater is not accessible because it is expensive, even though a movie ticket and popcorn rivals the price of a theater ticket, Holmes said.

He hopes the free Shakespeare performances will expose more people to theater and they will discover they like it.

"These plays were written 400 years ago and people haven't changed, though technology has. Shakespeare plays are not about places and things - they are about people and relationships," Holmes observed.

Eric Dickman, vice-president of Burien Little Theater, pointed out that people who wouldn't go to a performance inside will attend an outdoor performance.

And "Shakespeare is timeless," Dickman said. "His comedies are fun and his history plays have lots of swordplay."

BLT was interested in bringing GreenStage to Burien and when the board of directors learned that the Burien Arts Association was interesting in the same thing, the two non-profits decided to team up.

John Unbehend, a new board member with the association, sees the performances as a way to give back to the Burien community.

The association has "been going through a rejuvenation process over the last couple years and part of that is about reaching out and partnering with other arts organizations," said Linda Dougherty, board president.

Of the partnership with BLT, Dougherty said, "We want to bolster their visibility."

In turn, the association hopes to bolster the visibility of their own non-profit Burien Arts Gallery because of its location at the performance venue.

Debbie Zemke of the Burien Parks and Recreation Department said their role in the collaborative effort to bring Shakespeare to Burien was in providing Dottie Harper Park for the performances.

"I've worked here for five years and this is the first time I have seen two non-profits come together for one new activity and idea," said Zemke, who is excited that Burien is providing residents another opportunity to enjoy the arts close to home.

Because GreenStage is authentically Shakespearian, the only inclement weather that will put off a performance is thunder and lightning.

"We have done many shows in down pouring weather," said Holmes. "As long as someone is there to watch, we will do a show."