The return of the Shakespeare in the Parks tour kicked off last month in Crestwood. 

"We did Shakespeare in the parking lot. Lots of virtual Shakespeare in schools, and I can not tell you how good it feels to be live and in person in the parks again,” said Kentucky Shakespeare producing artistic manager Matt Wallace. 

Since then, the seven-actor, 90-minute production of Romeo and Juliet has made stops in 17 parks across Kentucky and Indiana, performing their take on the classic love story that actors say resembles the struggles of the past few months. 

"This year that we’ve all had, it’s so special to be able share that with people. Being able to look at each other and share the joy of falling in love but also extraordinary heartbreak and loss and grief,” said Kentucky Shakespeare actor Molly Murk, who plays Juliet. 

The script written hundreds of years ago is still proving to be inspirational.

"We say for stony limits cannot hold love out. The hard stuff will not stop the love, so I am happy that we are able to share this story with hundreds or hundreds of people every week,” said Kentucky Shakespeare actor Tony Reimonenq III, who plays Romeo. 

Actors have noted something similar in every neighborhood the tour has visited.

"I’ve noticed a lot in the last few days of people like reuniting and neighbors who are seeing each other for the first time and giving each other hugs and people saying, 'oh, I haven’t seen you in how many months.' It’s really a joyous time,” said Murk. 

The crew is just as excited to be performing live again as they are to see the community reunite. 

"It’s beutiful to see people be able to come together and share in this with us and we get to have a joy for it and see see them have joy for it like a circle of life,” said Murk. 

There are six more stops on the tour.