ITHACA, N.Y. — Catch the triumphs and tragedies of two Shakespeare classics — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” — in the beautiful outdoor setting of Robert H. Treman State Park this summer. Presented by Ithaca Shakespeare Company, the opening nights for the plays are Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12.

Ithaca Shakespeare Company will present “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” for the first time as well as the more well-known “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” between July 11 and 28. This year, there is a new venue for the plays. The performances will take place near the upper entrance near the historic Old Mill Building at Robert H. Treman State Park. (Use the address 129 Upper Park Rd. to get there) Parking fees are waived for visitors coming to see the production.

The lesser-known of the two productions, “Pericles, Prince of Tyre,” premiering Thursday is a romantic odyssey. As described by Ithaca Shakespeare Company, the play is about “(a)n epic journey around the Mediterranean and across the decades, chronicling one man’s triumphs and tragedies over the course of his life. From palaces to brothels, from shipwrecks to the appearance of a goddess, from the joy of love and family to the pain of their loss, Pericles is a thrilling adventure, a timeless romance, and a moving family drama all rolled into one. Don’t miss this rare Shakespearean treasure!”

“Pericles, Prince of Tyre” will take place at 6 p.m. July 11, 13, 19, 21, 25 and 27. Tickets are available on their website here.

Meanwhile, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will take place at 6 p.m. on the even days — July 12, 14, 18, 20, 26 and 28.

Of this performance, Ithaca Shakespeare Company says, “It’s been four years since we presented Shakespeare’s most magical play, and the time is right to return to perhaps the most perfect theatrical comedy ever written. Set in an Ancient Greece that seems suspiciously similar to Elizabethan England, Shakespeare serves up quarreling lovers, feuding fairies, a mischievous hobgoblin, love potions gone wrong, and a hapless band of wanna-be actors stumbling around in the forest. No matter how many times you’ve seen it, this play never grows old and always has something fresh and funny to offer.”

Learn more about the productions and Ithaca Shakespeare Company here.

Ithaca Voice Photographer Sam Fuller got an early peek this week at “Pericles, Prince of Tyre.” Here’s a preview of the play that premieres Thursday. (A note about the gallery — click any image to see a larger version of the image and a slideshow)