News From the Festival
Local Favorites Supply Concessions Items This Season
By Liz Armstrong Jenkins, guest writer
Shakespeare may bring the drama, but some of Cedar City’s favorite local eateries are bringing the flavor to this season’s concessions lineup. Alongside the Festival’s legendary tarts, patrons can now sample signature treats from favorite local places like The French Spot, Palette Bakery, and Ganache-d, in addition to local vendors like Nancy Lou’s Buttermints and Red Rock Chocolates.
“Our guests come to the Festival for an experience they cannot get anywhere else,” Concessions Manager Jimmy Twitchell said. “By featuring local products, we add a sense of place and community that elevates the entire visit.”
Park Place Eatery is back, having created our delicious and traditional tarts for the Festival for the past few seasons. Flavors include cherry berry, lemon, cream cheese, and apple.
“I remember traveling from Arizona to the Festival when I was young and enjoying the tarts,” said Park Place Eatery owner Cullaine Boone. “Now to be a part of it is amazing. We are honored and blessed to work alongside the Festival.”
In honor of the 65th season, Palette Bakery––another local favorite––is providing a new, personal Charcuterie Board with artisan meats and cheeses, dried fruits, olives, fresh herbs, and chocolate on a 65th Anniversary Commemorative Board. Twitchell highly recommends this charcuterie board, calling it a “standout this season.”
The French Spot is contributing yummy macarons in a variety of flavors like raspberry, coffee, coconut, mint, pistachio, rose water, and cheesecake. Also there are indulgent brownies by Ganache-d with flavors varying weekly, including triple chocolate, lemon raspberry, red velvet, mint, peanut butter, cookie dough, and coconut. Both are popular eateries in Cedar City.
Perhaps most exciting of all is the ice cream that has been added to the Randall L. Jones Theatre, once again sourced from Palette Bakery. Try the She Loves Me Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for the ultimate play experience. Ice cream sandwiches offer unique flavors like blackberry lavender with a cinnamon lavender shortbread, cardamom ginger with a ginger snap cookie, and chocolate macaron and pistachio ice cream.
New this year are Nancy Lou’s Buttermints, owned and operated by Ramona Jessop in Beaver, Utah. What started out as a personal project in a little back kitchen has grown into full-fledged production now found in over 100 stores. The Festival offers numerous flavors including coffee, cinnamon, key lime, vanilla mint, and lemon.
Red Rock Chocolates––founded by Jake Potter of Enoch, Utah––are also new on the menu this year. A local bean-to-bar craft chocolate business, it uses cocoa beans from around the world. The variety of soils in such places as Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Peru, Belize, and Indonesia help to achieve their unique flavors.
“Local vendors bring a quality that mass-produced products simply cannot match,” Twitchell said. “Concessions are far more than a convenience, they are an integral part of the Festival experience.”
The Festival spends an immense amount of time on the details with our patrons in mind. It is in all aspects of theatre, from acting and directing to set, costume, and sound design. It is even in the concessions, ensuring that each moment spent at the Festival ensures a quality experience.
“A world-famous tart in hand during The Greenshow, a local crafted treat at intermission, or a beautifully created charcuterie board before the curtain rises. . . these moments become part of the memory guests take home,” Twitchell said.
“Our local vendor partnerships bring the flavors of southern Utah to the table, and our traditional British treats connect guests to the Elizabethan heritage that makes the Festival unique,” Twitchell concluded.
To purchase tickets to the 2026 Season, visit bard.org, call 800-PLAYTIX, or visit the Ticket Office today.
To find out more about these vendors, please visit their sites:
A History of the Utah Shakespeare Festival—Celebrating 65 Years!
By Kathryn Neves, guest writer
Celebrating 65 years of magic at the Utah Shakespeare Festival this year has been marvelous! From world-class productions to educational outreach, the Festival is a cornerstone of Cedar City—and of Utah’s cultural arts scene. There have been a lot of milestones over the years—here’s just a few major moments that shaped the Festival into the cultural landmark it is today.
The Dream Begins (1960)
Fiancés Fred Adams and Barbara Gaddie spent one afternoon doing laundry together at Cedar City’s Fluffy Bundle Laundromat. And, while doing their laundry, they brainstormed. Fred had visited the Oregon Shakespeare Festival the year before; and, as the College of Southern Utah’s only theatre professor, he was inspired by their vision and innovation.
Now, in the Fluffy Bundle, Fred and Barbara wondered about the possibility of a Shakespeare Festival in Utah. Cedar City was the perfect place; after all, every summer an estimated quarter of a million tourists visited the nearby national parks. They’d need something to do in the evenings, wouldn’t they? Why not theatre? Why not Shakespeare?
As they waited for their laundry to dry, they wrote down notes on a little yellow notepad—notes that formed the foundation for a theatre company in their own little town of Cedar City, Utah.
Opening Night of the Festival (1962)
In 1961, Fred directed a student production of The Taming of the Shrew. It was a test season; a proof of concept to see if there was any community interest in a Shakespeare Festival. This proto-season was successful. Fred and Barbara had a year to drum up support for the Festival’s inaugural season.
Students and community members built a simple outdoor stage, along with costumes and props. They put together three shows: The Taming of the Shrew (a repeat of the previous year), The Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet. Barbara Gaddie designed The Greenshow, a way to immerse the audience into the Tudor world before the plays. And, with a $1,000 loan from the local Lions Club, they launched the very first season on July 2, 1962.
When he first approached the Chamber of Commerce in town about the Festival, “the idea went over like a pregnant pole vaulter,” Fred would repeat over the years that followed. But these fears were unfounded. Audiences loved the Festival—enough for Fred and Barbara to continue on the next year, and the next, and the next.
Dedication of the Adams Theatre (1977)
As the years passed, it became clear that the temporary stage on the grass was no longer sufficient. The Festival needed a permanent theatre. Based on 1969 designs by Doug Cook, a plan was created: an Elizabethan, Tudor-style theatre among the red rocks of Iron County. It would be as close as they could get to a replica of Shakespeare’s own Globe Theatre in London.
Construction began in the mid-70s, first with the building of the tiring house and the lower seats, and eventually the addition of the upper balcony. In 1977 the Adams Memorial Shakespearean Theatre—named for Thomas and Luella Adams, the parents (and parents-in-law) of donors Grace and O.C. Tanner—was dedicated.
The theatre was a huge hit. Audiences loved sitting in this beautiful space; it felt like Shakespeare himself could be sitting in the audience, or reciting on that Tudor stage. It was so authentic, in fact, that the BBC would later select it as a filming location for a television program about William Shakespeare.
The Inaugural High School Shakespeare Competition (1977)
Very quickly, the Festival realized that it could expand its programming. They could make a difference—not just in the lives of the community, but in the lives of students. The educational power of Shakespeare and live theatre was undeniable. So, in the summer of 1977, the Festival hosted the first ever High School Shakespeare Competition. Students from six local schools gathered together to perform Shakespeare, compete against each other, and learn from world-class theatre professionals.
Now known simply as the Shakespeare Competition (or Shakes Comp, by the staff), the program has grown exponentially. As of 2025, the competition has grown to include more than 3,000 students from 107 schools, welcoming students not just from Utah but states all over the Southwest and Pacific Coast, and not only from high schools, but from elementary and middle/junior high schools, and after-school programs too. And not only do the students participate in acting or technical theatre, but also music and dance inspired by Shakespeare.
Groundbreaking for the Randall L. Jones Theatre (1987)
After more than two decades, the Festival realized it had outgrown its single theatre. They needed a new space; something more modern, where they could perform the works of “Shakespeares of other lands.” Musicals, contemporary plays, and new works—all of these needed a new type of theatre.
In 1987 ground was broken on this new theatre. It would be indoor, rather than outdoors, and would feature a gold-leafed balcony and state-of-the-art stage technology systems. After two years of construction, the Randall L. Jones Theatre was dedicated on June 23, 1989—marking a turning point in the evolution of the Festival.
The Regional Theatre Tony Award (2000)
On May 8, 2000, the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League presented the Utah Shakespearean Festival with the coveted Tony Award—the highest honor in American Theatre. The award was for Best Regional Theatre: a special recognition of the Festival’s quality work and its impact on the community and region.
A group of Festival staff and board, including Fred C. Adams and R. Scott Phillips, accepted the award onstage in New York City and brought it back to Cedar City. A procession of local community members followed the group all the way from the airport to the Festival grounds; the Tony made its way onto the Adams stage, where Fred gave a speech thanking the patrons, artists, and community. Today, the award, normally housed in a display case inside the Randall Theatre lobby, can be seen at the brand new Museum of Utah at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City for the next few years.
Passing the Leadership Torch (2005)
After 44 years as the Executive Director of the Festival, Fred Adams stepped down, passing the torch to R. Scott Phillips, who in the 1970s became the Festival’s first full-time employee. During his tenure as Executive Director, Scott led the Festival through a period of unprecedented growth, including a name change (going from “Shakespearean” to “Shakespeare”) and the fundraising and building of a new campus.
After stepping down in 2017, Scott would go on to serve on Cedar’s City Council where he is currently still a councilman, continuing his tireless efforts to help Cedar City grow and thrive.
Emmy Award Recognition (2011)
The Festival’s 2011 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream during its 50th anniversary season was directed by Fred Adams and proved to be a community favorite. With this in mind, a television production team filmed and broadcast the production airing it on the BYUTV channel to audiences all over Utah. It is, to date, the only full Festival performance to be broadcast.
The Festival was awarded a regional Emmy for this production, further recognition of the high caliber of its work. This award can also be viewed in the Randall lobby.
Farewell to the Adams Theatre (2015)
After 38 years of use, the Adams Theatre held its closing performance on September 5, 2015. Audience members, Festival staff, and the actors from the night’s performance of Henry IV Part Two all said goodbye to this beloved and historic building. From here, Fred Adams carried a lit candle from the Adams stage to the construction site of the new campus across the street—carrying on the Festival’s tradition of excellence and theatre magic.
A New Artistic Center is Dedicated (2016)
In 2016, the Festival completed its most ambitious project to date—the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, a complex including the Randall L. Jones Theatre, the Festival administration offices, The Greenshow stage, and two new theatres—the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre and the intimate Anes Studio Theatre—as well as the Southern Utah Museum of Art.
With the same Elizabethan spirit as the original and the addition of modern and state-of-the-art amenities, the new campus provided the Festival with ample space to expand and create, bringing its world-class productions to its beloved community and countless new audiences every year.
New Leadership Team (2023)
After the departure of R. Scott Phillips in 2017, as well as his successor Frank Mack, the Utah Shakespeare Festival announced Michael Bahr as the new Executive Managing Director. Michael had already been with the Festival for decades, having started out in the Ticket Office while a college student and eventually becoming the Education Director for over twenty years, where he shared his passion and dedication through outreach and student programs. Already a beloved Festival figure, he was a natural choice for this new position.
The Festival also brought on John DiAntonio as the Artistic Director, a newcomer to the Festival, and well-established in the theatre world from his work at Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado. His work here as Artistic Director, as well as his performance as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew and Jack in Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise and his direction of Macbeth and Twelfth Night since his arrival, has made him a favorite among Festival patrons.
A Double Anniversary Milestone (2026)
This year, the Festival celebrates two anniversaries: 65 years since that original season back in the sixties, and 10 years since the opening of the Beverley Center for the Arts. While the Festival’s aesthetic and operations have evolved over the past six decades, the same spirit of artistry, sustainability, innovation, and community continues to drive everything it does.
The Festival has grown from its origins, from a small student-led experiment into a thriving world-class theatre. Its decades of history are a testament to the hardworking artists and professionals who have built it into the beloved institution it is today.
To see a more detailed timeline, visit the Festival’s Portrait Gallery hallway near the Engelstad Theatre to see a new commemorative history display featuring all the amazing milestones over the years, as well as decades of portraits representing the work on Festival stages. You can also now enjoy the Portrait Gallery online at bard.org/portrait-gallery.
Looking Towards the Future
While the past six and half decades have brought countless successes, challenges, memories, milestones, relationships, and growth opportunities, we at the Festival could not be more grateful to be a part of the Festival today, and looking forward to all that lies ahead for this amazing organization. We are so grateful and appreciative to our friends, donors, patrons, and supporters who have helped us grow in so many different capacities throughout our history. To that we say “Thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks” (Twelfth Night, Act 3 Scene 3).
2026 Military Appreciation Days
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is celebrating our Armed Forces by offering free tickets to military members for performances from September 9 to 12, 2026. Our Military Appreciation Days recognize the invaluable sacrifices, commitment, and unwavering dedication of our veterans and active-duty members.
Eligible patrons—those with a military ID or DD214 form, whether active or veteran—are entitled to a total of two (2) complimentary tickets per ID for select shows during the specified dates. These tickets can be split between two shows or used for a single performance.
Reserve tickets now by calling 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849) or by visiting the Ticket Office. Please note: these tickets cannot be redeemed for premier seating sections, this special offer cannot be reserved online, and spaces are limited.
Available performances are:
Wednesday (9/9)
- Something Rotten! - 2:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
- She Loves Me - 8:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
- Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein - 8:00 pm, Anes Studio Theatre (Very limited availability.)
Thursday (9/10)
- The Book Club Play - 2:00 pm, Anes Studio Theatre (Very limited availability.)
Friday (9/11)
- She Loves Me - 2:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
- Something Rotten! - 8:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
Saturday (9/12)
- Something Rotten! - 2:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
- She Loves Me - 8:00 pm, Randall L. Jones Theatre. (This is a musical.)
For more information about the productions, visit bard.org or call 800-PLAYTIX.
And don’t miss this extra event! During Military Appreciation Week, the Festival is commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a special one-time presentation of Anne Nelson’s The Guys on September 11 at 9:30am in the Anes Studio Theatre. Tickets are $11. All proceeds from the performance will benefit 9/11 first responders. Read more and purchase your tickets here.
Utah Shakespeare Festival to Present 9/11 Commemorative Reading of "The Guys"
By Kathryn Neves, guest writer
The Utah Shakespeare Festival will commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a special one-time presentation of Anne Nelson’s The Guys on September 11 at 9:30am in the Anes Studio Theatre. All proceeds from the performance will benefit 9/11 first responders.
Directed by Festival Artistic Director John DiAntonio and starring longtime Festival artists Melinda Pfundstein and Chris Mixon, this production will be a staged reading with the actors reading from scripts, akin to the Festival’s Words Cubed new play program.
According to DiAntonio, the simplicity allows for an intimacy that will deeply move audiences. “That simplicity is at the heart of the play. It doesn’t need elaborate scenery or theatrical effects to have an enormous impact. It’s about two people, their words, and what happens between them. A staged reading allows that humanity and intimacy to come through with great directness.”
The Guys follows the true story of a journalist who, in the days following the attack on the World Trade Center, helps a New York fire chief write the eulogies for eight of his men who were killed. Through this reading, the Festival hopes to commemorate and honor those first responders who gave their lives responding to the 9/11 attacks. To that end, all proceeds from the event will go to helping 9/11 first responders and their families.
“It’s a beautiful and tender script—so simple, so intimate, and perfectly suited to the Anes Theatre. I’m incredibly excited about our cast: Melinda Pfundstein and Chris Mixon are both beloved members of the Utah Shakespeare family, and I know our audiences will be thrilled to see them together,” said DiAntonio. “I hope you can join us for what will be a very special morning. The Guys is a small play about an enormous event, but its power lies in its humanity—in two people trying to find the words when words seem impossible. Twenty-five years after September 11, that feels like a story still worth telling.”
In this anniversary year, The Guys offers audiences a chance to remember the lives lost on 9/11 and the people who were left behind to tell their stories. Tickets for the performance are $11 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).
2026 SUU Homecoming Ticket Deals
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to invite Southern Utah University students, parents, and alumni to enjoy the productions on our stages during Homecoming celebrations this September. To that end, the following ticket promotions are available for certain shows September 24-26.
Current SUU students can purchase exclusive $20 tickets for the 8pm performance of the hilarious hit musical Something Rotten! on Thursday, September 24. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Festival Ticket Office between Monday, September 21 and Thursday, September 24 by presenting a valid SUU Student ID. For more information, visit this link.
Fine print: Limit 1 ticket per valid SUU ID for student ID holder only. Valid for the September 24 performance of Something Rotten! only (non-premier seating). Not retroactive; cannot combine with other discounts. All sales final; no refunds or exchanges. Subject to availability.
Also as part of SUU Homecoming weekend, alumni and visiting parents can enjoy 50% off tickets to two performances. The first is the 2pm matinee of the romantic musical She Loves Me on Friday, September 25. The second discounted performance available is Something Rotten! on Saturday, September 26 at 2pm. To redeem online, enter promo code TBIRDS26 at seat selection, or mention the code when calling or visiting the Festival Ticket Office. For more information, click here for September 25 and here for September 26.
Fine print: Valid for the September 25 performance of She Loves Me and the September 26 performance of Something Rotten! only (non-premier seating). Not retroactive; cannot combine with other discounts. All sales final; no refunds or exchanges. Subject to availability.
Festival Ticket Office
800-PLAYTIX or 800-752-9849
Hours:
Monday: 10am-5pm
Tuesday through Saturday: 10am-8pm, with phone service ending at 7pm
Exciting Initiatives Celebrating 65 Years!
2026 is a special year for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. We are celebrating our 65th Anniversary Season, as well as 10 years at the Beverley Center for the Performing Arts. To commemorate these milestones, patrons are invited to immerse themselves in special activities, visual history, and artistry of the past 65 years by participating in the following initiatives:
Walk the Festival Timeline: Journey through 65 years of history. Trace our legacy from a small outdoor stage to a Tony Award-winning destination theatre. Located adjacent from the Portrait Gallery just inside the Festival Administration building outside the Engelstad theatre gift shop.
Dive into the Festival Quest: This family-friendly adventure is designed to be a fun guide to help you fully experience everything the Utah Shakespeare Festival has to offer, whether you are a seasoned patron or a first-time attendee. Pick up the free physical Festival Quest guidebook at the Ticket Office or visit bard.org/Festival-Quest for more information. Track your progress to win prizes at the Ticket Office.
Step into the Portrait Gallery: Located just inside the Festival Administration building by the Engelstad Theatre gift shop, wander through this gallery to see characters portrayed during our performance history. While not every production is portrayed due to space constraints, each season and theatre is represented. New this season: you can also view it online at bard.org/portrait-gallery where additional information about each portrait is available.
View Past Festival Posters: Take a journey in the Randall L. Jones Theatre lobbies (both on the main floor and upstairs) through 65 years of Festival posters, brought up from our historic archives just for this season.
Seek Out the Special Mosaic: While in the upper Randall Theatre lobby, visit the special mosaic display near the stairs to see how your individual memories come together to create one giant work of art.
Specialty Season Posters: Take the magic home! Two exclusive, limited-edition season posters inspired by the poster from the Festival’s very first season are available only at the Festival gift shops.
Explore the SUMA Exhibits: Visit the Southern Utah Museum of Art just north of the Randall L. Jones Theatre to experience this summer’s special exhibitions. Discover displays celebrating the artistry of the Southern Utah painter Jimmie Jones, the legacy of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the history of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games.
Collect the 65th Season Pins: Purchase all three commemorative theatre pins at either gift shop location once you see all the shows in that theatre. If you see all eight productions this year, you can join the All Shows Club and pick up your FREE special edition pin from the Ticket Office.
Share a Festival Memory: The best part of any journey is the story you bring home. Whether you’re finishing a Festival Quest activity today or reminiscing about a memory from years ago, share your Festival memories with us by visiting https://api.bard.org/forms/story to upload your photos and “tales from the trail”—plus, be sure to stop by the Ticket Office to collect your exclusive sticker if you share your story!
Listen to Festival Podcast Interviews: Festival Orientation and Seminar host Ryan Paul, who also hosts Southern Utah University’s APEX Radio Hour, interviews members of the 2026 Season company. Hear entertaining stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and personal histories at bard.org/about/media.
Accessibility and Back to School Offerings at the Festival
Families may be going back to school and schedules are changing, but there’s still lots of chances at the Utah Shakespeare Festival to catch your favorite shows! There are also numerous accessibility opportunities and educational offerings available for patrons of all ages.
OPEN CAPTIONING
The Festival provides open captioning for select performances, ensuring accessibility for patrons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or benefit from reading along with the performance. Open captioning displays the spoken dialogue, some sound effects, and other audio elements, such as music cues, on a visible screen near the stage, allowing all audience members to fully engage with the production.
Open captioning services will be available during these 2026 performances:
Monday, August 17 at 2pm - See How they Run
Monday, August 17 at 8pm - Troilus and Cressida
Tuesday, August 18 at 2pm - She Loves Me
Tuesday, August 18 at 8pm - Hamlet
Wednesday August 19 at 2pm - Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Wednesday August 19 at 8pm - Twelfth Night
Thursday August 20 at 2pm - The Book Club Play
Thursday August 20 at 8pm - Something Rotten!
For assistance selecting appropriate seating or for additional information, email guestservices@bard.org or call the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).
Captioned performances are sponsored through a generous grant provided by the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation.
ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES
Live American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation services will be available during these performances:
Monday, August 24 – See How They Run at 2pm
Tuesday, August 25 – She Loves Me at 2pm
For assistance selecting appropriate seating or for additional information, email guestservices@bard.org or call the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).
SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE
Tuesday, September 1 – She Loves Me at 2pm
The Festival is again pleased to present a Sensory-Friendly Performancethis season. Patrons ages six and above who would benefit from attending the theatre in a more relaxed environment, such as house lights on at a low level throughout the performance, the use of fidget items, audience members being welcome to stand or move around, and more. Those for whom this is designed includes––but is not limited to––those with sensory sensitivities, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, dementia, learning challenges or differences, and other neurodiversities.
For additional information, email guestservices@bard.org or call the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).
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Educating and inspiring theatre lovers is a huge part of the Festival’s mission, and this often begins with young thespians.
Students can get a Student Access Pass for only $50 which allows them to get one ticket per performance day-of to up to 32 performances during the season. This pass is available to enrolled elementary through undergrad university students taking 12 or more credit hours; a student ID must be provided when purchasing the pass. Limit of one pass per student; expires October 3, 2026.
For teachers with school groups, Shakespearience is a must!
SHAKESPEARIENCE
Monday through Friday, through September 25
Shakesperience events are for school groups and include a performance, access to Festival-created study guide materials, and a selection of seminars, orientations, and other Festival programs like a workshop or backstage tour.
Utah public and public charter school groups of 12 students or more may receive free or reduced tickets to shows in the Engelstad or Randall Theatres, courtesy of the Professional Outreach Programs in the Schools (POPS) sponsored by the Utah State Legislature (excludes premier seating and is subject to availability). Chaperones may receive one reduced ticket per 12 students; additional chaperones receive half-off the regular ticket price. Additional events like those mentioned above are included in the ticket price.
Out-of-state, private, parochial schools, residential treatment centers, and homeschool groups/co-ops of 12 students or more may receive $15 tickets in the Engelstad or Randall Theatres (excludes premier seating and is subject to availability). Chaperones may receive one reduced ticket per 12 students; additional chaperones receive half-off the regular ticket price. Additional events may include an extra cost based on the activity and the size of the group.
Because of limited inventory, tickets to shows in the Anes Studio Theatre for school groups will be available only at a 50% discount.
Please contact the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849) to arrange for your group, or for non-educational group rates. For more information, visit bard.org/about/education/shakespearience.
The Festival’s 65th anniversary season includes Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night, and the comedy See How They Run which close by September 5; the musicals Something Rotten! and She Loves Me, along with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and The Book Club Play which run until October 3.
Utah Shakespeare Festival’s Words Cubed Program Announces Two New Plays
The Utah Shakespeare Festival announces the selection of two new plays and welcomes their playwrights for the annual Words Cubed new play program. Morphology by Jillian Blevins and The Forgeries of Jealousy by Grant Goodman will be presented on select dates August 7 through 22 in the Anes Studio Theatre. Tickets are $20.
Words Cubed is the Festival’s new play program and seeks to nurture and develop openly submitted and selected plays. It provides a professionally supported platform to provide readings and workshops during which playwrights spend a week at the Festival in rehearsals with directors, actors, and stage managers as they refine and rework their plays. At the end of the week, the revised plays are presented as staged readings, followed by a lively, interactive discussion between the playwright, actors, and audience.
“The selection process begins about a year in advance,” says Festival Artistic Director John DiAntonio. “Our dedicated team of twenty play readers thoughtfully reviewed over 200 play submissions to narrow them down to the final two selections.”
“While the Festival often focuses on the classics, it’s worth remembering that every play was once a world premiere,” DiAntonio continues. “They were tested in front of early audiences, characters and scenes were cut and changed, and adjustments made in order to become the versions that are eventually premiered to the world. We honor that same spirit of theatrical discovery and evolution.”
Join us this August for these two new works, and play a part by contributing to their development. In general, the plays in this series are written for contemporary adult audiences, and may contain themes and language not appropriate for children and that some may find offensive.
MORPHOLOGY
by Jillian Blevins
August 7, 8, 19, and 21, 2026
9:30am, Anes Studio Theatre
Nico, a nonverbal Autistic teenager, longs to be understood by his mother Claudia, a former academic who longs most for him to speak. When Claudia’s own mother Arlene intervenes and tries to convince Claudia to place Nico in a group home, their attempts to reach each other grow more desperate, Nico reaches out to one creature he thinks might understand him, and their carefully balanced world starts coming undone. Written in a mix of verse and prose, Morphology explores the power and inadequacy of language, what it means to know one another, and what we can learn from deep sea biology.
Playwright Jillian Blevins is an award-winning New England-based playwright whose work engages with literature, myth, and history, exploring how the stories we think we know resonate in our present. Other plays include Mere Waters (Winner ‘Best Script’ SheNYC Festival 2024); Romeo & Her Sister; The Polycule: A Comedy of Manners; Space Laser, in Space! (Semi-finalist Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway New Play Festival 2023); and Pilloried (Winner, Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway New Play Festival 2024, Concord Theatricals 2025). Jillian’s plays have been featured on audio drama podcasts Gather By The Ghostlight and The Ugly Radio. She is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.
The cast for this reading includes Kathryn Tkel as Claudia, Jacob Rosengren as Nico, Evelyn Carol Case as Arlene, and Chloe McLeod with stage directions. It will be directed by Patrick Vest.
Please note: This production contains strong language and depictions of ableism, Autistic meltdown, and self harm.
THE FORGERIES OF JEALOUSY
by Grant Goodman
August 14, 15, 20, and 22, 2026
9:30am, Anes Studio Theatre
It’s 1795, and Bardolatry is at its height. Georgian theatre audiences are ravenous for Shakespeare, while literary London longs to uncover any forgotten work by the “Sweet Swan of Avon.” The Forgeries of Jealousy tells the astonishing true story of William Henry Ireland, the teenager who so convincingly forged Shakespearean letters, manuscripts and even an entire “lost play” that he deceived much of eighteenth-century England. Beneath the sensational literary fraud, however, lies the deeply personal story of a son desperate to win the love and admiration of a father incapable of giving it. Exploring authorship, authenticity, ambition and identity, The Forgeries of Jealousy asks not only what makes a masterpiece, but whether the truth matters as much as the story we yearn to believe.
Playwright Grant Goodman is an actor, director, and playwright who recently became a member of the Acting and Directing Studio at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Grant’s play Rime of the Ancient Mariner, an adaptation with music of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem, was a finalist for the Frank Moffett Mosier Fellowship in Heightened Language. Other plays include American Cyclone, which dramatizes the story of Marshall “Major” Taylor, the first Black American sports superstar; and These Gilded Monuments, which tells the story of brothers Edwin, John Wilkes, and Junius Brutus Booth during their only theatrical performance together in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1864. Grant’s radio play adaptations of The Waxwork by A.M. Burrage, The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe and The Vengeful Corpse by Ed Adamson and Robert Sloane have been commissioned and produced at the IU Auditorium. Currently in development is A Crew of Patches, a comedy loosely based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s collaboration with amateur actors on their 2016 touring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Festival patrons may remember Grant as a member of the 2008, 2010, and 2014 performing companies, during which he performed Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew; the title role of Macbeth; Bernard in Boeing, Boeing; Duke Orsino in Twelfth Night; and Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, among others.
The cast for this reading includes Nick Case, John Harrell, Jackson Poulin, Heidi Carann Snider, Blake Henri, Emily Fury Daly, Thom Rivera, and Mat Hostetler. It will be directed by Rodney Lizcano.\
For more information or to purchase tickets for Words Cubed or for the 2026 season at the Festival, please visit here, the Festival Ticket Office, or call 800-PLAYTIX.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Returns to Perform The Winter’s Tale at Utah Shakespeare Festival
Utah Shakespeare Festival is proud to welcome the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from London. A group of recent graduates is performing a touring production of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale in the Anes Studio Theatre, as part of a strategic partnership between the two theatre organizations.
The condensed, ninety-minute version of the play will be presented from July 28 to August 1 at 9:30am, with post-performance talk backs with the company scheduled for July 28, 30, and 31 at 11am.
“Festival patrons thoroughly enjoy the work presented by RADA and many schedule their visits to coincide with these performances” says Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr. “This is an excellent opportunity to see high quality work performed by one of the world premiere actor training institutions.”
The RADA training program has a long and illustrious history and boasts a number of exceptional alumni that have seen success as actors, including Cynthia Erivo, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Allison Janney, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Alan Rickman, and Ralph Fiennes. Perhaps the next RADA “star” may just be on the Festival stage this summer.
Now marking seven years of this creative collaboration, it represents a commitment to foster international artistry of Shakespeare’s works. Each season, the Festival hosts RADA’s acclaimed touring production.
This thriving exchange was born in 2019 from a casual conversation about RADA’s powerful staging of Hamlet. It has since evolved into a vital cultural pipeline. While the touring group spends the school year performing specially adapted Shakespeare plays for children across London, their summer trip to Cedar City introduces Festival audiences to fresh, contemporary interpretations straight from the UK.
“The RADA collaboration brings a refreshing surge of creative energy to our season each July” says Artistic Director John DiAntonio. “We are honored to showcase the work of these exceptionally talented young artists in addition to our own exciting repertory lineup.”
Bahr agrees: “We are so grateful for the relationship with RADA that we have been able to develop and share. It serves as a testament to the artistic and educational commitment of both RADA and the Festival. It is a wonderful cultural exchange between artists, audiences and organizations!”
Tickets are $20 and are available by visiting the Ticket Office, calling 800-PLAYTIX, or purchasing online at bard.org/plays/rada-2026.
Utah Shakespeare Festival Announces 2027 Season
As we celebrate the opening of our 65th season and welcome you back to the Festival, we’re also thrilled to share a glimpse of what’s ahead in our 2027 season.
We invite you to watch our official 2027 Season Title Announcement video above to view our nine productions!
Tickets are available now. To purchase and learn more, visit bard.org/plays/2027 or call our Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).
In our largest, outdoor space–the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre:
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
June 21 - September 2, 2027
Set amid the hysteria of the Salem witch trials, The Crucible transforms historical events into a searing allegory about paranoia, integrity, and power. As accusations fly and reputations crumble, one man’s moral stand becomes an act of defiance against collective fear. Miller’s taut drama lays bare the dangers of mass suspicion and the ease with which truth can be distorted.
Henry V
By William Shakespeare
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
June 22 - September 3, 2027
A rousing tale of leadership, courage, and unity, Henry V follows the young king as he rallies England to an unlikely victory over France at Agincourt. Through fiery speeches, Shakespeare captures both the glory and the cost of war. The play is a sweeping story of transformation—from reckless prince to noble leader—and asks what it truly means to be a hero.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
By William Shakespeare
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
June 23 - September 4, 2027
Sir John Falstaff hatches a scheme to woo two wealthy women for their money—only to find himself the target of their hilarious revenge. Set in a bustling English town, The Merry Wives of Windsor brims with mischief, mistaken identities, and middle-class triumph. Shakespeare’s most purely comic play celebrates wit, love, and the joy of comeuppance.
In our beautiful large indoor space–the Randall L. Jones Theatre:
The Drowsy Chaperone
Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar
Randall L. Jones Theatre
June 24 - September 4, 2027
A love letter to golden-age musicals, The Drowsy Chaperone bursts with tap-dancing joy, witty parody, and infectious heart. As a reclusive musical theatre fan drops the needle on his favorite record, the show springs to life in his apartment—complete with glamorous stars, mistaken identities, and nonstop laughter. Equal parts satire and celebration, it’s an irresistible valentine to the magic of theatre.
Arsenic and Old Lace
By Joseph Kesselring
Randall L. Jones Theatre
June 25 - October 2, 2027
Darkly hilarious and deliciously twisted, Arsenic and Old Lace follows two sweet elderly sisters who have a peculiar dark hobby. Their nephew Mortimer discovers their secret just as his deranged brother returns home, setting off a farcical chain of events. It’s a madcap comedy where good manners meet mayhem, and murder has never been so charming.
William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead
By John Heimbuch
Randall L. Jones Theatre
June 26 - October 2, 2027
London, 1599. Shakespeare’s Henry V has just opened at the Globe Theatre when a mysterious plague sweeps through the city—one that leaves its victims dead… and then decidedly not dead. Trapped inside a quarantined playhouse, Shakespeare and his company must battle the undead, rivalries, and their own ambitions in a thrilling race for survival. This fast-paced mash-up of Elizabethan history, sharp comedy, and zombie horror is unlike anything else you’ve seen before.
In our intimate, 200-seat indoor space–the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre:
The Two Noble Kinsmen
By William Shakespeare and John Fletcher
Anes Studio Theatre
July 21 - October 2, 2027
A rarely-produced Shakespearean gem—and the only Shakespeare play never before produced by the Utah Shakespeare Festival—The Two Noble Kinsmen follows two devoted friends whose bond is shattered when they fall in love with the same woman. Set in ancient Greece, this sweeping tale of romance, rivalry, honor, and obsession explores how desire can transform even the noblest of hearts.
Into the Breeches!
By George Brant
Anes Studio Theatre
July 22 - October 2, 2027
When the men of a Shakespeare theater company leave to fight in World War II, a group of inexperienced actresses step in to save the season. Determined to mount an all-female production of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Henry V, they embark on a hilarious and heartfelt journey of confidence, community, and purpose. This uplifting comedy celebrates the power of art and the connections that sustain us in difficult times.
In the brand new George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Music Center at Southern Utah University:
All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain
Created and Performed by Patrick Page
Directed by Simon Godwin
Eccles Music Center
July 28 - August 7, 2027
Dubbed “The villain of Broadway” by Playbill, Patrick Page has never shied away from exploring his dark side. Now, with this tour de force show, he turns his attention to the twisted motivation and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly through the Shakespeare canon, Page illuminates the playwright’s ever-evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations. Thrilling, biting, hilarious, and enlightening, what Page delivers is a masterclass on the most terrifying subject of them all: human nature. Created and performed by Patrick Page, and directed by Simon Godwin, the duo bring the fullness of Shakespeare to life in this dynamic, contemporary, and accessible take on Shakespeare’s villains, promising an evening of mesmerizing artistry, powerful storytelling, and a rare intimacy that will redefine your perception of Shakespeare and his villains. Following each performance, the audience is invited to a 15-20 minute talkback with Patrick, moderated by Patrick, to explore the world of Shakespeare’s villains and his relationship to them more intimately.