Touring New York City parks this summer, will be The Shakespeare Project's production of Midsummer Night's Dream, June 17-Aug. 15. Puppet direction for the production will be by master puppeteer Ralph Lee.

Lee will be creating the action for puppets designed by Teri Maknauskas, from the Center for Puppetry Arts. Composer Dawn Buckholz will provide the score. Buckholz had performed with such internationally renowned composers and performers as Philip Glass, John Cage, and Sting.

Lee is founder of NY's annual Village Halloween Parade (now in 25th year), and last year had many of his puppets exhibited at the New York Library for the Performing Arts. He has been honored with numerous awards including : a Bessie Award, two Obie Awards, induction into City Lore's People's Hall of Fame, a NY State Governor's Arts Award, a citation from the NY Municipal Arts Society, and an American Theater Wing Design Award.

Scott Cargle, artistic director of The Shakespeare Project, will direct the cast featuring Rene Alberta, Stephanie Berry, Brian O'Connor, David Logan Rankin, Suzanne Savoy, and Jennifer Tober.

The schedule, is as follows:
June 17 -20, Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan (in the Heather Garden)

June 24-27, Central Park, Manhattan (72nd St & 7th Ave)

July 8 - 11, Fort Green Park, Brooklyn (Top of the Park)

July 15 - 18 Battery Park City, Manhattan (at the Oval Lawn)

July 22-25, St. Nicholas Park, Manhattan (135th St. & St. Nicholas Ave)

July 29 - Aug. 1, Sakura Park, Manhattan (122 St & Riverside Dr.)

Aug. 5 - 8, Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx (at the VanCortlandt House Museum)

Aug. 12 - 15, St. Albans Park, Queens (Merrick Blvd. & Linden Blvd.) Tickets for all performances are free. -- By Sean McGrath