10 Things to Know About This Year’s Anes Theatre Productions at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

September 19, 2023

Elijah Alexander as Timon in *Timon of Athens*, 2023. Photo by Karl Hugh.

10 Things to Know About This Year’s Anes Shows at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

Don’t miss out on two rarely-performed Shakespeare plays––Timon of Athens and Coriolanus, both closing in a few weeks on October 7.

We invite you to come and believe in the power of theatre in our intimate Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre. It’s a must-have experience! Here are ten things you should know about these two shows before you come:

Lisa Peterson made her directorial debut at the Festival this season. She is a two-time OBIE Award-winner and her most recent production, Good Night, Oscar starring Sean Hayes who received a Tony Award for his performance, is currently on Broadway.
Actor Elijah Alexander, known for his roles as Atticus Aemilius in seasons two and three of The Chosen TV series, is in both Anes productions as Timon in Timon of Athens and Tullus Aufidius/Roman Citizen in Coriolanus.
This is the first time that both shows in the Anes have both been works of Shakespeare.
Scholars consider Coriolanus unusual for Shakespeare’s works, as it follows a single narrative line. Still, Director Lisa Peterson considers the play to be one of Shakespeare’s most powerful.
Although Coriolanus enjoyed military success as a legendary Roman hero, his temperament was not suitable as a leader, which resulted in his downfall. This brings up an interesting theme that Peterson plays on in her production, asking the question: “what does it take to step up and lead?”
This season’s production is only the third time the Festival has produced Coriolanus in its sixty-two year history, with previous productions being in 1977 and 2007.
Peterson made the artistic decision for Coriolanus to be produced in a modern setting this year at the Festival.
Timon of Athens, will, however, be set in the time of its creation––around 1607. Patrons can expect traditional ruffs and pumpkin pants.
The last––and only––time the Festival has produced Timon of Athens was 30 years ago!
Shakespeare wasn’t the only playwright for Timon of Athens. It is theorized that Thomas Middleton also worked on the play. Director Lisa Peterson loves that Shakespeare collaborated with the younger writer and found new ways to tell stories.