Sylvan theater

Sylvan Theater on the Sylvan Green, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, USA.

A sylvan theater — sometimes called a greenery theater (in French, Théâtre de verdure) — is a type of outdoor theater situated in a wooded (sylvan) setting. Often adorned with classical motifs (columns, statues), a sylvan theater may substitute a simple green lawn for built seating and can include elaborate arrangements of shrubs, flowers and other greenery. These alfresco stages may be features of grand formal gardens or parks, or of more intimate settings, and may be intended for either public or private use.

Notable sylvan theaters

Europe

• The Sylvan Theater, Killruddery House and Gardens, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.
  • Sir Walter Scott, during a stay at Killruddery, was inspired by the idea of the sylvan theatre, including it in his novel St. Ronan's Well (1824).
• Heckentheater ("hedge theater"), Herrenhausen, Germany
• Sylvan Theater, Schwetzingen Castle, Germany
• Ruinentheater ("ruined theater"), Sanspareil Garden (near Bayreuth), Germany

North America

• The National Sylvan Theater, National Mall, Washington, DC, USA
• “Sylvan Theater” (“The Columns”), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
• Sylvan Theater, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
• Sylvan Theater, Greenwood Park, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
• Forest Theater, Carmel, California, USA
• The Sinsheimer-Stanley Festival Glen at Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
• The Garden Theater at Villa Montalvo, Saratoga, California, USA