Catch some Bard on the beach, in the woods

A gourmet picnic, a little wine and some Shakespeare under the stars. That's a perfect summer evening in my book.

You can enjoy a little Bard on the beach during the 36th annual Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival in Nevada, which starts Thursday and runs through Aug. 17. "Richard III" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are among the al fresco performances taking place along the shores of Lake Tahoe at Sand Harbor State Park. Tickets start at $22 during the week; $27 on weekends. Go to www.laketahoeshakespeare.com or call (800) 747-4697.

A lot closer to home is the top-notch American Players Theatre near Spring Green, Wis. If you've never been, go. If you've been before, go again. And give yourself plenty of time before the curtain rises to picnic on the 110-acre grounds.

The hilltop amphitheater is surrounded by towering trees -- a setting worthy of the high-caliber performances staged each summer through the first weekend in October. This season's five plays are "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Henry IV: The Making of a King," "Widowers' Houses," "The Belle's Stratagem" and "Ah, Wilderness!" Tickets start at $36; www.playinthe woods.org; (608) 588-2361.