To say that the Blackbird Theater has been tested while preparing for the debut of its outdoor summer theater festival, Shakespeare West, would be a gross understatement.

Difficulties have plagued the fest’s inaugural, production of “The Tempest” in Ann Arbor's West Park—originally planned for a five-person cast—since the actress cast as Ariel and Alonso (Gayle Martin) suffered an eye injury and also needed emergency surgery on her vocal cords.

“We learned of it minutes before the first read-through,” said Blackbird founder Barton Bund. But then Jamie Weeder, an actress who’d been cast as Caliban, told Bund, “‘I’d like to try it. I think I can do this.’ … Right away, (Weeder taking on additional roles) worked out well, and it was thematically cool. With all of the fast changes we’re making, and the way we’re emphasizing the duality of the characters, it wound up being the case that her instincts were correct.”

So then there were four—before the show’s Prospero, actor Dennis Kleinsmith, was hit by a van while rollerblading near his home in Detroit.

With only three performers left at that point, Bund, who’d planned to direct the show, stepped in to play Prospero, and Lynch Travis assumed directing duties.

“It’s been freaky,” said Bund. “We’ve had to go through plan B and plan C and plan D, and we’ve wound up making choices that were risky. But we did what we had to do, and so far, so good. … We feel like we’re back on track now.”

This summer’s Shakespeare West festival will also include the Blackbird’s unconventional takes on “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Twelfth Night,” and “Othello,” and a Blackbird Theatre Academy Youth production of “Pericles: Prince of Tyre.”

“This first year’s an important year for us,” said Bund. “We’re putting our identity out there. And the way we’re doing Shakespeare is going to be different from what people expect of a typical festival. … We try to approach each one as brand new play, which is the way you have to go about it. You have to do that if you want to free yourself up from the traditions and expectations, and show people the work in a new way.”

Nascent ideas about a possible Blackbird outdoor summer theater festival took root five years ago, when Bund’s barber, Bob Dascola, talked with Bund about his involvement in the West Park project. The Blackbird was presenting “The Seagull” at the time, and the thought of staging it outdoors excited Bund.

“So we batted around some other ideas in the past few years,” said Bund. “And when the park finally became available, and the renovations were done, we thought, ‘Let’s do it.’ For a year now, we’ve been putting the plans together. … We’ve always loved the idea of green theater, theater that embraces its environment. It’s a beautiful way to do Shakespeare. … And the few rehearsals we’ve have had out in the park have been really inspiring. It’s just a magical place.”

Of course, when locals think of watching the bard’s work outdoors, they probably think of Kate Mendeloff’s popular, annual Shakespeare in the Arb production. But Bund took pains to be in contact with Mendeloff, as well as Royal Oak’s Water Works Theatre Company (which also presents outdoor Shakespeare productions), about the Blackbird’s plans.

“We brought them in on the dialogue, because we thought it was important that we communicate with each other,” said Bund. “ … Kate’s is very well established at this point. Her shows move through (Nichols Arboretum), while ours stays in one location, and while Kate tends to do the plays in their original period, ours will be set on the moon and in gay bars and things like that. So it seemed like it wasn’t an issue.”

Bund noted that one of his life’s goals was to present every one of Shakespeare’s plays; but for Shakespeare West’s inaugural year, he chose some of the most popular titles. Plans to venture into the more obscure plays, as well as contemporary classics along the lines of “Art” or “Proof” or “Death of a Salesman,” lie on the horizon.

“Anything we had in our season this past year could have been done in the park,” said Bund. “We want to expand people’s ideas about outdoor theater. … And we want the festival to have the flavor of Ann Arbor—to be creative and smart and hip and funky. … It’s a community that … embraces things that are new and different, and that’s us.”

So Bund remains optimistic, despite all he and the rest of the company have faced in recent weeks.

“It was terrifying, and nightmarish,” said Bund. “We had to get control of it again. We couldn’t let it control us. But it really does make you believe in Shakespeare’s ghost. … Every time I’ve done Shakespeare, I’ve felt his presence in it somehow, pushing buttons to see how you respond. … But the plays are so fantastic that you deal with whatever he throws at you.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.