On June 7, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) kicks off a season of Shakespeare’s most popular plays and one award-winning new play with a Shakespearean twist.
The summer season begins with Twelfth Night, opening in the quintessential outdoor Mary Rippon Theatre. As You Like It kicks off the indoor season in the University Theatre. Both productions will feature live music composed specifically for CSF.
Performance extras
Classics 101
This free informal lecture series is a great way to learn about the historical context, production history and behind-the-scenes aspects of the plays, concluding with a drawing for tickets to the play’s opening night.
Outdoor Preshow Talks
A beloved CSF tradition, CSF offers a free preshow talk before most performances, given by the producing artistic director or another CSF staff expert. Come late; come early.
Outdoor Cast Talkbacks
Following most performances, remain in the theater for a talkback discussion with members of the company. The talks are announced during the curtain speech prior to the performance.
Picnicking
The Hellems Lawn and Shakespeare Garden are open for picnicking with friends and family 75 minutes before showtime. Whether you take advantage of the convenient dining options or just grab a glass of wine in the theater, a pre-show picnic completes the CSF experience.
Green Shows
Enjoy some pre-show entertainment in the Shakespeare Garden before many of our outdoor performances.
Shakespeare Garden Tours
Spend some time before taking your seat and visit the courtyard between the Hellems and Education buildings. Here, a passionate team cultivates and gardens dedicated to the plants that Shakespeare knew and memorably referenced in his plays.
The season also will feature Romeo and Juliet outdoors, as well as a Bard-inspired work indoors. In King Charles III: A Future History Play, playwright Mike Bartlett uses Shakespearean-styled verse to envision a near future where personal privacy, public betrayals and a threat to free press collide in the days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Public tickets start at $17, and season ticket options are available through CU Presents, as well. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2019 season.
Twelfth Night
June 7 to Aug. 11 Mary Rippon Theatre Tickets
This comedy about thorny love triangles, mistaken identities and a pair of twins lost at sea will feature original live music composed and performed onstage by Rinde Eckert. Amber Scales, who made her CSF debut in 2018’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, will lead as Viola; CSF favorites Robert Sicular and Rodney Lizcano also are set to perform.
As You Like It
June 21 to Aug. 10 University Theatre Tickets
Directed by Carolyn Howarth, this show will feature an intimate cast of eight actors playing all 19 roles in the script. The cast will perform live folk/Americana music onstage composed by Sam Misner, who is on-site for a two-week residency to collaborate with the cast during rehearsals.
Romeo and Juliet
July 7 to Aug. 10 Mary Rippon Theatre Tickets
Shakespeare’s epic romantic tragedy will feature extensive sword fighting on stage, choreographed by director Christopher DuVal. Hugh Hanson is designing the costumes, which will feature elaborate, couture takes on the Renaissance period.
King Charles III
July 19 to Aug. 11 University Theatre Tickets
Mike Bartlett’s “future history play” borrows the form of a Shakespearean history to imagine what goes on behind the scenes with the living British royal family. This production is the regional premiere of the Critics’ Circle Award-winner and Olivier Award-winner for Best New Play, as well as Tony nominee for Best New Play.
King John
Aug. 4 Mary Rippon Theatre Sold out
Part of CSF’s Original Practices tradition, this sold-out, one-night-only event will feature the CSF company performing Shakespeare’s play in the original style his audiences might have enjoyed in the early 1600s.
