2027 Directors in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre and The Greenshow
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to announce the directors for the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre shows and The Greenshow for the upcoming 2027 season. With Shakespeare as our cornerstone, the Festival is excited to produce two of his most popular stories outdoors, along with an American classic perfect for this setting. Get ready for the family-friendly Greenshow and Shakespeare under the stars in the Engelstad Theatre!
The Crucible
By Arthur Miller
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
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.
Michael Perlman returns to the Festival this year to direct The Crucible after directing last season’s She Loves Me and 2025’s Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise. A New York-based writer and director, his work has been seen at Goodspeed Opera House, Cleveland Playhouse, Boise Contemporary Theatre, and Creede Repertory Theatre among others. He has been associate director for Noises Off on Broadway and at off-Broadway’s Roundabout Theatre, Barrow Street, and the Public Theatre. He has taught at Juilliard School of Drama as well as Brown University where he earned his BA and MFA. He is a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and is a Drama League Directing Fellow.
“What a gift it will be to get to create a production of The Crucible for the Engelstad stage. In the Engelstad, there is nowhere to hide – from the audience, nature, the world above, or oneself. Arthur Miller wrote one of the great American plays that explores what it means to face the truth about oneself and one’s community, and how easily the truth gets corrupted in moments of hysteria. How fitting that it be performed alongside plays by perhaps the greatest writer to explore the complexity of what it means to be human.”
The Crucible previews on June 21, 2027, and runs through September 2, 2027.
Henry V
By William Shakespeare
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
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.
Directed by Festival veteran Geoffrey Kent, Henry V is one of Shakespeare’s best known history plays. Patrons will recognize Kent from his acting roles in past seasons including Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra, Duke Frederick in As You Like It, and various roles in Macbeth. He also directed See How They Run last season, The Play That Goes Wrong in 2023, and has served as fight director and acted in numerous other shows since 2009. His work has also been seen at Lone Tree Arts Center, DCPA Broadway, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Arvada Center, among others. He has taught at University of Northern Colorado and University of Denver, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDCS).
“I cannot wait to bring some unique ensemble-forward staging to a play our audiences know so well,” says Kent. “Our show lives on the idea of Henry V’s opening night at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. A 1600’s company tells a 1400’s play with a pack of actors that switch from English to French and back again.”
Henry V previews on June 22, 2027, and runs through September 3, 2027.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
By William Shakespeare
Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre
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.
Directing is Carolyn Howarth, a returning artist who helmed last season’s Troilus and Cressida, Antony and Cleopatra in 2025, and The Winter’s Tale in 2024. Her amazing work has also been seen at Colorado Shakespeare Festival where she spent 14 seasons. She has also directed at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, and Foothill Theatre Company where she served as artistic director. Her teaching credits include University of South Carolinal, University of Alabama, and UC Davis. She earned her BA and MFA from UC Davis and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
“The Merry Wives of Windsor is a knockabout comedy - a full cornucopia of high jinx, joy, and vitality. It abounds with small details of domestic life, beloved characters, and truly audacious situations. It’s belly-roll funny!”
The Merry Wives of Windsor previews on June 23, 2027 and runs through September 4, 2027.
Visit bard.org to get your tickets today!
The Greenshow
Greenshow Commons
Prepare for delightful summer evenings of stories, music, and dance with three new shows on the green. Festival veteran Trey Plutnicki returns to direct and choreograph these shows as the perfect way to get in a theatrical mood before the mainstage evening shows and perfect for the whole family.
Plutnicki served as director and choreographer of The Greenshow in 2026, and choreographer of previous Greenshows and various mainstage shows in 2024 and 2025, and as a member of the acting company in 2019 and 2021. He has also worked with Drury Lane Productions, Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre.
“The Greenshow at the Festival has always been about community. This season, we hope to continue the tradition with more sing-a-longs, dance-a-longs, and more ways to celebrate with your neighbor. We can’t wait to share brand new Greenshows!”
The Greenshow previews on June 21, 2027 and runs through September 4, 2027.
