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:
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.
