Summer Shakespeare Returns To Commons

Free Shakespeare returns to Boston Common this summer after years of economic uncertainty.

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will stage 16 performances of "The Comedy of Errors."

The production is going forward without financial backing from its former partner, the Citi Performing Arts Center. They broke up last summer after years of creative and financial conflict.

The theater company is back to non-profit status and is half way to raising it's $350,000 budget..

Founding Artistic Director Steve Maler says he's deferring his salary until the show goes on.

"We're a very lean organization," Maler says. "There's 2 year-round, full-time employees. It's challenging. There's no white knight coming down the field to write a $100,000 check to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company."

This summer's production of "The Comedy of Errors" is an economical choice. It's Shakespeare's shortest play.