The Festival Announces the Cast of Troilus and Cressida

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to announce the cast of this season’s production of Shakespeare’s rarely-performed tragedy Troilus and Cressida. As one of the final plays in our 14-year goal to “Complete the Canon," this will be only the third time in the Festival’s 65-year history that this story––based on the Trojan War––will grace our stage. At the helm is director Carolyn Howarth, who directed Antony and Cleopatra last season and The Winter’s Tale in 2024. 

“Troilus and Cressida is one of my favorite plays,” says Howarth. “I so enjoy how it deconstructs traditional love stories and heroic myths, and simultaneously feels incredibly modern. It is so rarely performed and yet this darkly-witty satire offers a critical and sarcastic take on war and love, is full of humor and song, and overall is quite the thriller! It feels relevant in that it highlights how powerful countries can lose their soul when consumed by pride, greed, and a relentless pursuit for victory. Plus the characters are so intriguing! And there are high-octane sword fights! I think it’s a great night in the theatre!”

Working alongside Howarth to create the world of this show are the following lead artistic staff: Scenic Designer Apollo Mark Weaver, Costume Designer Jen Gillette, Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam, Sound Designer/Composer Lindsay Jones, Music Director Brandon Grayson, Voice/Speech/Text Coach Philip Thompson, Dramaturg Lezlie Cross, Choreographer/Intimacy Coordinator Sacha Comrie, Fight Director Geoffrey Kent, and Stage Manager Martinique M. Barthel.

Both new and returning actors make up the cast of Troilus and Cressida, which is as follows:

Calvin Adams returns for his first full season with the Festival, after performing as Falstaff in last year’s Shakespeare in the Schools tour of Henry IV. This summer he will perform as Patroclus/Myrmidon in Troilus and Cressida. He has worked at Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Guthrie Theater, and Chicago’s Lifeline Theatre, among others. He holds a theater degree from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater Actor Training Program. 

Lavour Addison is returning for his second season at the Festival as Ajax in Troilus and Cressida. Audiences may remember him as Macduff in last season’s Macbeth, among other roles. He has also worked at Creede Repertory Theatre; Idaho, Lake Tahoe, and Colorado Shakespeare Festivals, Cleveland Playhouse, and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company. Addison received his MFA in acting from Case Western Reserve and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Kyleen Doman is new to the Festival and is playing Alexandra/Trojan Attendant/Soldier in Troilus and Cressida. She is currently pursuing a BFA in acting at Southern Utah University and will appear this season courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program, a partnership between SUU’s Theatre Department and the Festival. She has performed roles in The Three Sisters, Julius Caesar, and The Prom.

Luke Elison is also appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program and is pursuing a BFA in musical theatre at SUU, where he recently played Pippin in Pippin and roles in Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play and The Secret Garden. His roles this season include Trojan Attendant/Greek Soldier in Troilus and Cressida.

Gabriel W. Elmore returns for his second season, as Diomedes/Myrmidon in Troilus and Cressida. He performed last summer as Orlando in As You Like It and Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra, among other roles. He has appeared with Fulton Theater, Quintessence Theatre Group, InterAct Theatre Company, and Delaware Shakespeare Festival, among others. Elmore was also in the film Alice-Heart and taught at Temple University where he received his MFA in acting.

John Harrell returns for his third Festival season, this time as Pandarus/Myrmidon in Troilus and Cressida. Audiences may remember him as Hortensio in 2024’s The Taming of the Shrew and Autolycus in The Winter’s Tale, among others. He has also performed the title characters in Hamlet, Cyrano de Bergerac, Richard II and more at the American Shakespeare Center. Harrell received a Bachelor of Arts in English from James Madison University and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association. 

Emily Hawkins makes her Festival debut as Helen of Troy in Troilus and Cressida. She performed numerous roles at Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, including Rosalind in As You Like It, Hermione in The Winter’s Tale, and Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers. Other regional credits include Chicago Children’s Theatre, Great River Shakespeare Festival, and The House Theatre of Chicago. She received her BFA in acting from Oklahoma City University.

Blake Henri returns for his fourth season, playing Thersites in Troilus and Cressida. He was in last season’s Macbeth and As You Like It, as well as The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, The Play That Goes Wrong, and A Raisin in the Sun from earlier seasons. He has worked at the American Shakespeare Center; the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa; Cleveland Playhouse; and Dallas Theatre Center, among many others. He has appeared in numerous television shows such as The Chosen, Walker, and HBO’s Love and Death, as well as the films American Underdog and Great Plains. He holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma. 

Mat Hostetler makes his Festival debut this season as Paris/Myrmidon in Troilus and Cressida. His Broadway work includes Death of a Salesman and the North American Tour/Japan Tour of War Horse. Off-Broadway he has performed at Lincoln Center and NYTW Next Door, while his regional credits include La Jolla Playhouse, Denver Center, and Colorado Shakespeare Festival. His television work includes The Gilded Age, Boardwalk Empire, The Blacklist, and Six Feet Under, among others. He was also seen in the film The Utopian Society. He is the creator and host of the Sometimes It Rains Podcast. He received his MFA from the National Theatre Conservatory, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Avery Michael Johnson is debuting at the Festival as Troilus in Troilus and Cressida. His work at Montana Shakespeare in the Parks includes roles in Henry V, The Winter’s Tale, and The Three Musketeers. He has also performed at Richmond Shakespeare and Signature Theatre, and received his BFA in theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Loren Jones will be performing the role of Menelaus this season in Troilus and Cressida. He was an understudy for numerous roles last season for all the shows in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. He has also worked at the Goodman Theatre, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, and Boise Contemporary Theatre, as well as in the film Sharing Air. He has a master’s degree in acting from Northern Illinois University and is a member of the Society of American Fight Directors.

Kayland Jordan returns for her third season at the Festival, playing Aeneas in Troilus and Cressida. She performed as Rosalind in last year’s As You Like It and Second Weird Sister in Macbeth, along with previous shows including A Raisin in the Sun and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also acted Off-Broadway and at Asolo Repertory Theatre, Theatre SilCo, and American Stage Theatre Company, among many others. She has appeared in HBO’s Betty, ABC’s Emergence and The Brides, and in the films Gap Year and Keep Me At Bay. She is a resident teaching artist at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, earned a BFA in acting from Pace University, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

John Keabler is making his Festival debut as Hector in Troilus and Cressida. He has performed Off-Broadway at Cherry Lane Theatre, as well as at Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, and Cincinnati Playhouse, among many others. His on-screen work includes many television shows including 30 Rock; Madam Secretary; All My Children; and The Men Who Built America; as well as films like Faith, Love and Whiskey; SUGAR!; and Where The Snow Fell. He earned an MFA at The Old Globe Professional Actors Program, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG. 

Walter Kmiec returns for his third season, as Achilles in Troilus and Cressida. Audiences will remember him as Macbeth in last year’s production of Macbeth, Touchstone in As You Like It, and Canidius in Antony and Cleopatra. Before that, he portrayed Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing and Norfolk in Henry VIII. He has also worked at Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Orlando Shakespeare Festival, Endstation Theater Company, and People’s Improv Theater, among others. He has taught at Stetson University and Florida State University, where he received an MFA in directing. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Rodney Lizcano returns to the Festival as Agamemnon in Troilus and Cressida, after directing The Importance of Being Earnest last season and performing in Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew in 2024. He also spent 24 seasons with the Denver Center Theatre Company and 10 seasons at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, among many other theaters. He received an MFA from The National Theatre Conservatory and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and Society of Directors and Choreographers.

Brianna Miller is debuting at the Festival, playing Cressida in Troilus and Cressida. She has performed at Cleveland Play House, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, among others. She has received the KCACTF Irene Ryan Regional Award and the Janicka Zuck Richards Playwriting Award. She earned an MFA in acting from Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House.

Harry B. Reid makes his debut as part of the ensemble in Troilus and Cressida. He is currently pursuing a BFA in acting at Southern Utah University, is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program, and was part of the Festival’s house management team last season. He has performed in Three Sisters; Cloud 9; Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play; The Comedy of Errors; and Alice by Heart, among others.

Thom Rivera is making his first appearance at the Festival as Priam/Nestor in Troilus and Cressida. His Off-Broadway work includes The Acting Company, Culture Project, Manhattan Theatre Club, and Roundabout, among others. He has performed regionally at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, The Denver Center, and South Coast Rep, including numerous others. He has been in many television shows such as Law & Order, Bunk’d, New Girl, Lucifer, and The Mindy Project, and films like Eddington, El Tigre, and Once Upon a Time in Venice. He has taught at UCI Irvine, SUNY Albany, and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA.

Ivy Robbins is new to the Festival and will be part of the ensemble in Troilus and Cressida. She has been in Pippin; Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play; Sweet Charity; and The Secret Garden, all at Southern Utah University where she is currently pursuing a theatre degree. She is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program. 

Veronique Robledo makes her Festival debut as part of the ensemble in Troilus and Cressida. She has performed in Sweet Charity, Pippin, and The Secret Garden at Southern Utah University. She has also worked at The New Play Lab at Kayenta Center for the Arts. She is a current Musical Theatre major and is appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program.

Ty Saunders is also a Southern Utah University Musical Theatre major, appearing courtesy of the SUU Fellowship Program, and will be seen as Greek Page in Troilus and Cressida. His work at SUU includes Mr. Burns in Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play and other roles in Pippin, Cloud 9, and Black Comedy.

Kathryn Tkel is returning for her second season at the Festival, and is performing the role of Cassandra/Ensemble in Troilus and Cressida. She was seen last season as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, Audrey in As You Like It, and Lady Macduff in Macbeth. Other work includes productions at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Folger Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, and many more. She was seen in the film Harriet and currently teaches at Southern Utah University. She has an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy for Classical Acting and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.  

Mare Trevathan is making her Festival debut as Ulysses in Troilus and Cressida. She has performed at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Denver Center Theatre Company, and is a founding member of the Local Theater Company in Boulder, Colorado. She has worked with Sundance Lab, Saratoga International Theater Institute (SITI), and P3, and was seen in the film Silver City.

Braedon Young returns for his fourth season at the Festival, as Antenor/Myrmidon in Troilus and Cressida. His previous roles include George Seacole in Much Ado About Nothing, Robin Starvling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Abram in Romeo and Juliet, among others. Other performing credits include She Loves Me, Don’t Stop Me, and Drowsy Chaperone, as well as being a two-time soloist at Carnegie Hall. He received his BM in Musical Theater from The Manhattan School of Music.

The Festival’s 65th season runs June 18 through October 3, 2026. Troilus and Cressida plays in rotation with Hamlet and Twelfth Night in the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. Book your tickets now for these unforgettable performances under the stars online at bard.org or by calling 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).

Celebrating 65 Years: Shakespeare and the Fluffy Bundle

By Ryan Paul, guest writer and Festival Orientation/Seminar Moderator

Walt Disney, at the height of his popularity, advised his animators to “remember that it all started with a mouse.” In the case of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, it all started in a laundromat. In the spring of 1960, Fred Adams, a young (and the only) drama professor at the College of Southern Utah sat with his fiancée Barbara Gaddie in the Fluffy Bundle Laundromat and on a yellow note pad designed their dream. The notes on that pad would become the blueprint for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The events that culminated with this Fluffy Bundle planning session had taken root years before. 

Fred Adams had begun to build a successful drama program that the Cedar City, Utah, community enthusiastically supported and which would eventually evolve into the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Coming from a family that actively encouraged his dramatic ambitions, Fred brought some of the biggest shows of the New York theater scene to rural Southern Utah and its small college. The only looming difficulty became the cost of continually purchasing royalty rights for newer shows. The solution: produce Shakespeare. The plays of William Shakespeare existed in the public domain, so no royalties needed.

Fred had spent a few weeks in the summer of 1959 living with friends in Ashland, Oregon. There he developed a life-long friendship with Angus Bowmer, the founder of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Fred spent all his time taking notes, watching rehearsals, and sketching sets. He began to notice similarities between Ashland and Cedar City. Both were similar in size, had small junior colleges, and were surrounded by scenic wonder. If a Shakespeare festival could work in Ashland, Oregon, why not Cedar City, Utah? 

In 1960, Fred took his college acting company on a barnstorming tour of rural Utah and Nevada. They performed Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit in cultural halls and rented auditoriums to great acclaim. This cast became the foundation for the first Festival productions. 

The pieces began to fall together. Fred and Barbara wanted to stay in Cedar City. Shakespeare worked in the community. The drama program had expanded and the students were enthusiastic. However, there were some storm clouds on the horizon. Cedar City had begun to suffer some economic troubles. The iron mines, which had brought large amounts of tax revenue into the city and county coffers, were beginning to close.

Additionally, the proposed route of the new Interstate 15 bypassed Cedar City by over 15 miles to the west. If the freeway did not have an interchange in Cedar City, it would be a devastating blow to the local business community.

Fred and Barbara envisioned a Shakespearean festival that would draw tourists into the community––tourists that would stay in motels, eat at restaurants, buy gas for their cars, and shop in the local stores. A festival could provide leverage for bringing the freeway closer and making Cedar City a destination point for travelers. Shakespeare could help Cedar City survive. Fred and Barbara took the ideas written on the yellow note pad, finished their laundry, and set to work.

Since it’s inaugural season sixty-five years ago, the Utah Shakespeare Festival has evolved from three plays over two weekends on a temporary stage into an internationally recognized, Tony Award-winning theatre company. The Festival now presents in three diverse theaters, eight plays in repertory through the summer and fall bringing quality professional theater to hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.

Hamnet, Hamlet, and the Question of Grief

By Kathryn Neves, guest writer

This year, as part of the 65th anniversary season, the Utah Shakespeare Festival will be producing one of Shakespeare’s best loved plays—in fact, one of the best works in the entire English language! Hamlet, often considered the Bard’s magnum opus, is brimming with universal themes. Inaction, legacy, memory, identity, and sanity are all topics that have defined the human experience for millennia. But perhaps the most relatable theme in Hamlet is its exploration of grief and mourning. The play’s many deaths allow us, as an audience, to explore what grief is; what it means to lose someone, the dangers of getting stuck in grief, and how loss can transform a person.

Is it any wonder, then, that so many people see a connection between this play, and Shakespeare’s deceased son, Hamnet?

With the recent release of the film Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and based on the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, the topic of Shakespeare’s life is on a lot of people’s minds. How might his personal tragedy have affected his work? Over the centuries, historians and scholars and fans alike have seen the possible connection between the death of Shakespeare’s son and his best-known play. Most obvious, of course, is the name: “Hamnet” is remarkably close to “Hamlet.” In fact, the neighbor that Hamnet was named after—Hamnet Sadler—often called himself Hamlet. Shakespeare even called him “Hamlet” in his will. The names were practically interchangeable at the time.

Then, of course, there’s the timing. Shakespeare’s son died in August of 1596, likely from the bubonic plague which was sweeping through Stratford (and all of London) at the time. The play Hamlet then appeared only three to five years later; a play which featured the turmoils of grief, and famously, an iconic contemplation of what comes after death. The play also centers around the relationship between a father and son; it is old King Hamlet’s death, after all, that sets the events of the play into motion. It seems like a no-brainer that Hamlet was inspired by the death of Hamnet.

It’s natural to want to find a connection between Shakespeare’s work and his loss. After all, who isn’t curious about his life? We know so little about him and his family. No wonder we try to read Shakespeare himself into every work. But, as interesting as this theory is, the truth is—we don’t really know. Most scholars reject the Hamnet/Hamlet connection; Hamlet is, after all, based on an earlier legend—a legend about a man named “Amleth.” Hamlet is also largely taken from an earlier, lost play (which scholars call the “Ur-Hamlet”), meaning that these themes of loss, grief, and a father-son relationship existed in this form long before Shakespeare lost his son.

If you’re looking for something likely inspired by Hamnet’s death, though, a lot of scholars point to King John. Written in the year after Hamnet’s death, it features one of the most moving depictions of grief Shakespeare ever put to paper. After losing her son, the character Constance says: 

“Grief fills the room up of my absent child,
Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,
Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,
Remembers me of all his gracious parts,
Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;
Then, have I reason to be fond of grief?”

This passage, to many scholars, feels like a more immediate, definite, and obvious response to Hamnet’s death than anything in Hamlet.

Still, whether or not Hamlet was inspired by Hamnet’s death, it’s clear from all of his works that Shakespeare was deeply familiar with grief. Hamlet’s depiction of loss, obsession, and family ties have captivated audiences for centuries. It’s reasonable to think, then, that Shakespeare was writing about his own experience. Even if Hamnet’s death wasn’t consciously on his mind when he wrote Hamlet, it’s fair to say that his own experiences with past grief shaped the play.

Written so realistically, with such universal and relatable language, it’s no wonder that people come back to Hamlet again and again. One of the most commonly performed plays in the English language, it’s been a Festival favorite ever since the opening season in 1961. So this summer, come and see Hamlet running June 19 to September 4, 2026, in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, and see for yourself just how well Shakespeare captures the human experience.

Meet the Team for the 2026 Shakespeare in the Schools Tour

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is excited to announce its team for the 2026 Shakespeare in the Schools education tour of The Comedy of Errors. This group of ten theatre professionals recently gathered in Cedar City to begin rehearsals. Beginning in February, nine of the ten will travel across Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, and Nevada from February 2 through April 17, visiting more than 50 schools and community centers. 

Before they get on the road, the community is invited to a free public performance on Friday, February 6, at 7pm in the Southern Utah University Auditorium. A talkback with the cast will follow the performance. All ages are welcome.

The Tour

This 75-minute Shakespeare performance is part of the Shakespeare in the Schools program run by the Festival’s Education Department. It is designed to be a condensed yet complete theatrical experience. Education Director Stewart Shelley says this tour is one of the most meaningful opportunities for young people in our region each year.

“Through this program, Shakespeare is presented in an accessible, engaging format to students in grades 1–12 across the Intermountain West, many of whom may not otherwise have access to live theatre,” he says.

For middle and high school-aged students, the touring company offers hands-on workshops in addition to the show. “Beyond performance, the touring company offers talkbacks and interactive workshops that invite students to practice and refine their own theatrical skills, including text and speech, movement, improv, and tech and design.” 

For elementary school students, the tour company prepares a 45-minute assembly version that explores elements of theatre and Shakespeare. They talk about the story of the play, ask the students questions, and offer Shakespeare in a way that is exciting and digestible for even the youngest student. 

The Play

This is the first time The Comedy of Errors will be sent on tour by the Festival. Director and Festival veteran Marco Antonio Vega hopes the comic story will offer an opportunity to laugh and to show that we are more alike than we are different. 

“This play is ultimately a story about outcasts and homecomings,” he says. “It’s a comedy that begins with a tragedy: an elderly man is given a punishment of death, simply because of where he is from.” But he is allowed to tell his story about the search for his lost twin sons and their servants, who are also twins, in hopes of being reunited. Through a series of mishaps and seeming errors, at long last, his family comes back together again.

“From a full outcast refugee tragedy, to a comedic homecoming feast of equals, The Comedy of Errors teaches us that there is more that connects us than separates us,” Vega says.

The Team

Many may remember Vega from his numerous appearances at the Festival, performing in seven main stage seasons between 2014 and 2024. Some of his roles include Antipholus of Ephesus (one of the twin sons!) in 2021’s The Comedy of Errors, Paris in 2023’s Romeo and Juliet, and Don John in 2024’s Much Ado About Nothing. He received his BA degree in theater from Southern Utah University and his MFA from the University of San Diego, and has taught at both Utah Tech University and Southern Utah University. 

The tour will travel with two production staff: Tour Manager Alyssa Peters and Stage Manager Fiona Misiura. The performing cast consists of seven actors: Jeric Gutierrez, Mikki Pagdonsolan, Giuseppe Michael Pipicella, Gianna Porfano, Emily Michelle Walton, Christian Watts, and Zay Williams. The company will perform for thousands of students, teachers, and community members. Read more about the team’s individual bios here. 

Members of the resident Festival staff designed the production. Scenic design is by Properties Director Ben Hohman. Props design is by Assistant Properties Director Marielle Boneau. Costume design is by Diana Girtain, who has designed costumes for The Greenshow and previous tours. All the elements of the touring production are designed to be easily set up and taken down, and hauled in a moving truck and van, which the company will use to take the show on the road. 

The Festival has been sending out the Shakespeare in the Schools tour since 1993. Shelley sums up why this tour is so important: “This direct exchange between professional artists and young audiences creates powerful learning experiences, making the tour deeply impactful for students and profoundly rewarding for the actors who serve them."

For more information, contact the Utah Shakespeare Festival Education Department at 435-865-8333, usfeducation@bard.org, or by visiting bard.org/about/education/shakespeare-in-the-schools.

Bright Lights at the Beverley Center to Celebrate the Holiday Season

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is proud to welcome the public to the ninth year of their dazzling holiday light display all around the Beverley Center for the Arts, which has become a favorite local seasonal tradition.  

“We are thrilled that the community comes and meanders through the grounds, taking in the beautiful lights, decor, and music,” says Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr. “It’s a lovely reason to step out of warm cars and homes with our family and friends and have a Hallmark-like experience.”

The display includes over 100,000 lights, icicles, wreaths, and other decorations, inspired by the 2020 design by professional lighting designers Tom and Donna Ruzika. This year, installation took four members of the Festival’s facilities and electrical staff more than 125 hours to complete. 

The vision for the Festival lights combines traditional Christmas lights and music with theatrical and architectural lighting. New in the last couple of years is additional lighting on Shakespeare Lane and in the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) Stillman Sculpture Court. The end result is a beautiful display for the community to wander through and enjoy on the Festival grounds during the holiday season. 

The lights turn on near sunset each night, and run through January 1, 2026.

Live Theatre Makes the Perfect Gift This Christmas! 

Looking for the perfect gift for ALL your loved ones? Give the gift of live theatre this season!

It’s not too early to purchase tickets for the 2026 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The play lineup for the 65th anniversary season includes Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Troilus and Cressida, and Twelfth Night, along with the hilarious musical Something Rotten!, the romantic comedy musical She Loves Me, the farce See How They Run, the visceral Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and the satirical The Book Club Play. 

You are such a gift to us––thank you for your support of the Festival! So here’s our gift to you: gift ideas, deals, and discounts to another incredible season of telling stories and making memories! 

If you’re looking for gift ideas for students and lifelong learners, check out details about our educational offerings below. 

To purchase tickets and take advantage of these discounts and educational offerings, and for more information, call the Festival Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX visit bard.org/tickets, or email guestservices@bard.org for inquiries or assistance during reduced holiday season hours at the Ticket Office. 

FOR ANYONE

Gift Certificates can be purchased from the ticket office in any amount. These are available for main stage productions as well as backstage tours and Repertory Magic. These make the perfect stocking stuffers!

The Play More discount is also a great way to give tickets to the most shows. Buy tickets to five or six shows and receive $4 off each ticket, or buy seven or eight shows and get $5 off each ticket.

FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN

The Student Access Pass is an amazing deal and available for only $50. It allows students one ticket per performance to be used up for up to 32 times throughout the season and is extremely popular.

This steal of a deal is for students in grades 1-12 from any school or home-school, as well undergraduate students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. 

The pass is available for purchase by phone or in person, but not online. During the season, it can only be redeemed for one ticket per student per show on the day of the performance. The tickets are subject to availability and exclude premier seating. The pass cannot be refunded or exchanged, and it expires October 4, 2026. 

For young thespians, don’t miss out on our amazing summer youth camps! Imagine their faces when they find out they’re going to Summer Playmakers Camp (ages 5-17) from June 8-20, Junior Actor Training (ages 12-14) from July 20-25, or Actor Training (ages 15-17) from July 13-18. 

FOR LOCALS

If you’re local, the perfect gift for any theatre lover is the Iron County Pass. Iron County residents may purchase it for $200, which may be redeemed for six admissions throughout the 2026 season. Proof of residency and an ID is required when purchasing, and residents are limited to two passes per resident. This pass expires October 4, 2026 and excludes premier orchestra seating. (There are no refunds or exchanges with the pass, and some exclusions may apply.)

FOR EDUCATORS AND ADULTS

Teaching artists may be available to visit Utah public and charter schools to lead free workshops and events. Request a workshop from our PlayTeam here. 

Give the gift of learning this season. Adult courses are offered during the month of July, where participants can apply to receive Southern Utah University professional development credit for attending Teaching Shakespeare and/or Tech for Teachers. 

FOR SUU ALUMNI

For those who graduated from Southern Utah University, the gift of an Alumni Days package is the way to go! Along with discounted tickets for shows June 24-27, 2026, there is also a backstage tour, exclusive cast seminars, a dinner, and more included. It’s the perfect getaway for alumni and their families and friends.

FOR SCHOOL GROUPS

Need a really unique gift for students or teachers in your life? Gift an experience for schools and education groups of 12 or more to enjoy a professional play, orientation, and other experiences with the Festival’s Shakespearience program. This special offer is available for any matinee Monday through Friday, August 3–September 25, 2026. 

Shakespearience excludes premier seating and is subject to availability. Pricing is free or reduced per person for Utah public/public charter school groups, and $15 per person for private, parochial, or out-of-state school groups; residential treatment centers; and homeschool/co-op groups of 12 or more students. Other exclusions may apply. 

OTHER DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS

For groups of 12 or more, a discount starting at $4 per ticket is available. 

For those that are 62 years and older, AAA members and members of the military, a $4 discount per ticket to any performance is available. 

For those with sensory or accessibility needs, options such as Sensory-Friendly performances, live American Sign Language Interpretation services, and captioned performances are offered as well. 

Call the ticket office at 800-PLAYTIX or visit bard.org for more information. During this holiday season, our ticket office will have reduced phone hours. To ensure we can assist you promptly, we recommend emailing guestservices@bard.org for any inquiries or assistance.

21st Annual Holiday Light Display Raises Money for Charity

Festival Properties Director Ben Hohman and Assistant Properties Director Marielle Boneau, and their many elves, once again present their long-standing holiday light display, a favorite in the Cedar City community. Located at 26 North 1150 West in Cedar City, near the Southern Utah University football stadium, this is the 21st year of the display. The display lights up each evening from 5:30-10pm, running through December 31, weather permitting.

This year’s display includes around 70,000 lights, 60 plastic blow-molds, over 24 lighted animal sculptures, more then 35 inflatables, a homemade nine-foot wreath, wire-frame animated sculptures, and much more. The lights in the front of the home as well as some of the lights in the backyard are choreographed to twenty different Christmas songs. The public is invited to walk through display on “Candy Cane Lane,” which leads attendees through the entire property. Some of the highlights of the display include Santa’s Flight School where reindeer are learning to fly, the Christmas Zoo, Winter Disco Land, Santa’s Workshop, and Gingerbread Land. Other favorite characters include Snoopy and his Peanuts friends, Minnie Mouse, and Mater from Cars.

Hohman and Boneau are avid year-round collectors for this festive display, finding pieces at thrift and antique stores, snatching end-of-season discounts, as well as donations of lights and vintage decorations from others.

As part of the display, donations are collected for Make-A-Wish® Utah. The display has raised over $43,000 in the last 20 years. Hohman and Boneau also donate the value of their December power bill to the organization. Donations can be made in person at the display, online which has a link to the Make-A-Wish® Utah online donation site, or with Venmo @benslightdisplay.

If you’d like more information about this event please contact Ben Hohman at benhprops@hotmail.com.

Over 5,000 Pounds of Food Collected for Iron County Care and Share

This fall, patrons of the Utah Shakespeare Festival contributed mightily to a worthwhile cause for the local food bank. Two and a half tons of food was collected to give to the Iron County Care and Share, more than twice what was collected during the Festival’s food drive last year. The food donations were part of our 22nd annual Fall Food Drive from September 9 to October 4, the final weeks of the Festival’s season. 

In total 5,140 pounds of food was donated to help members of the local community. Residents of Iron, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Piute, and Beaver counties in Utah and Lincoln County in Nevada were encouraged to take part in the drive. They were able to donate six items of nonperishable food and receive a half-price ticket to a Festival production, with no limit on the number of half-price tickets.

“Thank you so much for this food drive that is done for us every year,” said Sara Mendoza, the Food Pantry Warehouse Manager at the Iron County Care and Share. “We’re so glad for all these donations that the community was able to raise. All this will help so many families.”

“We’re so grateful for such generosity from our patrons,” says Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr. “This community has, time and again, stepped up to help those who have such vital needs.”

The Iron County Care and Share was founded in 1984 by a group of local churches of different denominations to address the issue of hunger in our community. Working with partners in the community, neighboring counties, and in the state, the Iron County Care and Share is able to help homeless and low-income individuals and families work toward self-sufficiency. It is located at 900 North 222 West in Cedar City, Utah. Monetary donations are always accepted. Click here to donate to the organization.

Utah Shakespeare Festivals Announces Shakespeare Signature Retreat 

By Liz Armstrong, guest writer 

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is delighted to announce the launch of the new Shakespeare Signature Retreat for the 2026 season. An exclusive retreat for the sophisticated theatre lover, this is an event where world-class theatre meets all-inclusive luxury. 

Designed to grant unparalleled insider access to the ins and outs of the Shakespeare Festival, the retreat’s ultimate goal is to foster intimacy and connection with a “journey into the very soul of our stages.” 

Education Director Stewart Shelley is thrilled to offer this exclusive event to Festival patrons – comparing it to a lux “theatre land cruise, where every moment – from sunrise to curtain fall – is orchestrated to engage, inspire, and transform.”

From August 2 to August 7, 2026, the retreat will include accommodations and premiere seating at all eight productions. Three daily meals will be provided with the opportunity to dine with actors, directors, and creatives. Private backstage tours and personalized seminars will also be a major element of the retreat.

“This is the quintessential Utah Shakespeare Festival experience, where you can be carefree and relax and not have to worry about anything. We’ll take care of all the details.” Shelley said.

Unique to other Festival offerings, this retreat goes beyond a mere glimpse behind-the-scenes. Instead, it offers an immersive experience for a small, intimate group through every angle of theatre, from the costume shop to the rehearsal halls.

“We have hand-picked what to share from the 2026 season with our participants, as we’ve been working on it for nearly two years now,” Shelley continued. “We’ve been in design meetings with directors, dramaturgs, and the entire production team, and have lots of amazing experiences planned. This isn’t just a behind-the-curtain peek, but exclusive insider access.”

Shelley will be hosting the retreat alongside Instructional Coach Jim Wilcock. Availability is limited, with 20 of the 40 seats already filled. Submit an Interest Inquiry today to Education Programs Manager Sophia Bulloch to secure a spot.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity to welcome guests into a beautifully curated week that celebrates both the artistry on our stages and the people who create it,” Bulloch said. “Designing this retreat has been incredibly meaningful, and I’m excited to watch participants step behind the scenes, engage with our artists, and experience the Festival in a uniquely personal and unforgettable way.”

For more information, visit bard.org/retreat.

What to Know about our Upcoming Cyber Sale!

With the holidays right around the corner, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is excited to announce our upcoming Cyber Sale! Check out the following FAQs to learn everything you need to know to save on 2026 Festival tickets.

$10 Off Cyber Sale FAQs

Q: How much is the discount?
A: $10 off ALL regularly priced 2026 tickets for our eight mainstage shows. 

Q: When is the Cyber Sale?
A: The sale is split into two timeframes. Early Access is available by code and is available ONLINE ONLY at bard.org/plays on November 29–30, 2025. The sale for the general public will take place December 1–2, 2025 on bard.org/plays or by calling the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849), 10am to 5 pm. No code is necessary during the general sale. 

Q: How do I get an Early Access code?
A: Donate $5 or more by clicking here or by calling 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849) by 5pm on November 23, 2025. Your unique code will be sent to your email on November 24, 2025, for use during the Early Access window (November 29–30).

Q: Are there any exclusions to the discount?
A: Yes, the discount excludes premier seating in any theatre, Words Cubed and RADA performances in the Anes Studio Theatre, backstage tours, and Repertory Magic. Discount cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to previous purchases.

Q: Are sales final?
A: Yes, all tickets purchased are nontransferable, nonrefundable, and cannot be exchanged.

Q: What if I have more questions?
A: For more information, please visit our website at bard.org/tickets or call our Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849). The Ticket Office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday November 27-30, but inquiries during those days can be sent to guestservices@bard.org. 

Iron County Pass FAQs

Q: What is the special offer for Iron County residents?
A: During the Cyber Sale (December 1–2, 2025 only), you will receive EIGHT (8) tickets for $200 with every Iron County Pass purchase, instead of the regular six (6) tickets. That breaks down to just $25 per show!

Q: Who can purchase an Iron County Pass?
A: Only Iron County residents can purchase. Proof of residency required.

Q: How will my Iron County residency be verified?
A: For existing patrons, we will verify residency using the address currently listed on your account. If you are a new buyer, you will be required to provide a valid Iron County address (e.g., matching the billing address on your credit card or a utility bill) when purchasing over the phone.

Q: When and how do I purchase the Iron County Pass special offer?
A: You must call the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849) between 10am and 5pm on December 1–2, 2025 only. It is not available for purchase online.

Q: Is there a limit on how many passes I can buy?
A: Yes, the Iron County Pass is limited to two per household. A household is based on the account holder’s address. 

Q: What shows can I use the Iron County Pass tickets for?
A: Passes are valid only for 2026 mainstage productions.

Q: Do I have to choose the shows and dates I want to see as soon as I purchase the pass?
A: No, you do not need to select your specific performance dates right now.

Q: How do I redeem the tickets? 
A: Tickets may be redeemed online using your Festival account, by calling the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849), or by visiting the Ticket Office. There is no refund if not all eight tickets are redeemed during the 2026 season, nor can tickets be saved for future seasons.

Q: Does the pass expire? 
A: Yes, the pass expires on October 4, 2026.

Q: Are there any exclusions for the Iron County Pass?
A: Yes, the pass excludes premier seating in any theatre, Words Cubed and RADA performances in the Anes Studio Theatre, backstage tours, and Repertory Magic. Discount cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to previous purchases, and tickets are ineligible for exchanges or returns.

Q: What if I have other ticket questions?
A: Visit bard.org/tickets, call 800-PLAYTIX (752-9849), or email guestservices@bard.org the Ticket Office and an agent will be happy to help!