Wait’s Over! Curtain Goes Up On Utah Shakespeare Festival This Week

If you have been anticipating the return of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, your wait is over. The 62^nd season will see the curtain rise this Wednesday, June 21^st with a preview performance of Romeo and Juliet.

In a bit of irony, the first production on stage this year will be that last production that was announced, as Romeo and Juliet was announced as a replacement for West Side Story in January. The reason for the replacement was due to a burst water pipe that caused flooding which damaged sound equipment that would have been needed to produce the musical.

Also on Wednesday will be the first presentation of the Greenshow. This season the Greenshow will feature three themes: Paiute Heritage and celebration, The Hills of Appalachian and English Regency Garden Party. The Greenshow is free, family friendly entertainment available Monday through Saturday through summer. The performance lasts about 30 minutes and features singing, dancing, stories and audience participation.

Thursday will bring preview performances of Jane Austen's Emma and A Midsummer Night's Dream. And on Friday there will be a preview performance of A Raisin In The Sun and the opening night performance of Romeo and Juliet. And on Saturday it will be the opening night performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Other shows opening later in the season include The Play That Goes Wrong, Timon of Athens and Coriolanus.

In those last two shows, fans of the television show The Chosen will have a treat. Elijah Alexander, who plays the character of Atticus Aemilius in the TV series, will have a role in each production. He will play the character Timon in Timon of Athens and the role of Aufidius/Roman Citizen in Coriolanus. Seems he can't get away from playing Roman characters.

And there's so much more at the Utah Shakespeare Festival than the shows. You can attend activities for most of the day. Play seminars are held all season long as well as play orientations that take a deeper dive in to the play and gives patrons answers to questions and add enjoyment to the shows.

You can also learn how technicians are able to make the change everything from matinee performances to the evening performances and watch a scene change and ask questions during Repertory Magic. This option is available on Friday's starting in July and going through September 29th.

You can also take the Backstage Tour where you take a peek behind the scenes and get a sense of how all the enchantment comes together. Tours are conducted by actors and artists who are able to share their backstage knowledge with you.

Over the years, the Utah Shakespeare Festival has gained a stellar reputation for its artistic excellence and commitment to preserving and celebrating the works of William Shakespeare. It has received numerous awards and accolades for its productions, and its contributions to the theater community are highly regarded.

It is truly remarkable to have such excellent performance art right here in our community. And while we may be welcoming thousands of visitors in to our town to enjoy the festival, the production company has great enjoyment by seeing local community members in attendance. Residents of Iron, Beaver, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Piute, and Lincoln counties may purchase tickets to any Utah Shakespeare Festival play at 50 percent off. The tickets must be purchased the day of the performance. To get this discount you must order by phone or by going to the box office. This is not available by online purchase. The phone number is 1-800-PLAYTIX.

Additionally, Iron County residents can purchase the Iron County Pass for $200. This pass can be used for up to eight admissions through out the season. Proof of residency is required and some other restrictions apply. You can get full details at bard.org.

Attending the Utah Shakespeare Festival provides a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the world of Shakespearean theater and experience the magic of live performances in a beautiful setting. Whether you are a Shakespeare aficionado or a theater lover in general, the festival offers a rich and unforgettable theatrical experience.