The Greenshow: 10 Fun Facts

From the early years of the Festival, The Greenshow has always been an audience (and performer) favorite. First developed by the late Barbara Adams over sixty years ago, this free 30-minute family-friendly entertainment before the evening plays happens every Monday through Saturday at 7:10 p.m. beginning June 17 through September 7.

This season, returning director Britannia Howe has created three distinct and exciting themes which rotate in correspondence with the evening shows in the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre: Royals Night, Folk Festival Night, and Commedia Night. In addition, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah returns as part of The Greenshow and will perform four special evenings throughout the season.

“I love the spirit of The Greenshow,” says Howe. “It invites audiences into our space to play. It is vital for our world-building, to create a joyful experience with our guests.”

Whether you are a first-comer to The Greenshow, or have attended for over sixty years, here are some fun things to know about this Festival staple held on the Ashton Family Greenshow Commons.

1. Howe is returning for her fifth year as writer and director of The Greenshow, having also helmed it in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. She has created 14 Greenshows for the Festival so far and is always looking for new stories, themes, and music, while striving to keep the nostalgia of the traditional Greenshow.
2. Royals Night, which plays on the same night as Henry VIII, is inspired by the lineage of King Henry VIII with songs from English, Irish, and Scottish folk traditions. Special appearances include Queen Elizabeth I; Mary, Queen of Scots; and a couple members of a favorite Loch Ness family.
   

   

3. Folk Night, which plays the same night as The Winter’s Tale, draws on those Shakespearean characters who live in the Bohemian wilderness. With themes of a summertime arts festival, there will be folk songs, lively stories, and artistic characters to enchant the audience.
4. Commedia Night, which precedes performances of The Taming of the Shrew, is inspired by Italy and features stock characters from Commedia dell’Arte. There will be lots of fun tricks, jokes, and plenty of puns.
5. Don’t miss our friends from the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah who will take the stage on July 8 and 23, and August 7 and 29 for their very own Greenshow performances, including traditional drumming, dances, music, and regalia.
6. Many of the props used in The Greenshows have an important feel of nostalgia because they have been used in past seasons. One to look out for on Royals Night is the Mama Nessie puppet which was first used in The Greenshow and The Royal Feast over 25 years ago and requires two people to manipulate. Also, Mama Nessie appears during an original song composed by Festival Music Director Brandon Grayson with lyrics by Grayson and Howe. (BONUS FUN FACT: Grayson has either arranged, music directed, produced, or composed 100 songs exactly for The Greenshow in the past five years!)
7. All The Greenshow performers this season are alumni or current students of Southern Utah University. (Go T-Birds!)
8. This is Trey Plutnicki’s first year as a choreographer for the Festival and The Greenshow. He was a featured performer in The Greenshow in 2019 and 2021. Some may recognize him from the reality television show Squid Game: The Challenge.
   
   

   

9. When writing The Greenshow, Howe says she tries to include references to the history of the Festival. For example, one of the songs this season references the large sycamore trees that shade The Greenshow stage.
10. This is the first time The Greenshow costumes have been co-designed by longtime Festival employees Diana Girtain and Jeff Lieder. They were especially excited about designing and crafting the gowns for the two queens on Royals Night. “I have wanted to have Queen Elizabeth appear on The Greenshow stage for years,” says Howe. “This year I thought it was the right opportunity because of the connection to Henry VIII, as she was his and Anne Boleyn’s daughter.” Girtain and Lieder designed her and Mary, Queen of Scots’ dresses in such a way that the actors could still dance and move about with ease.

The Greenshow is a perfect way for families and patrons of all ages to enjoy the Festival Experience. Don’t forget to book your tickets to the mainstage productions of Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado About Nothing, The 39 Steps, Silent Sky, and The Mountaintop. Visit bard.org or call 800-PLAYTIX for tickets and information.

The Greenshow Through the Years

The Greenshow was created in the early years of the Festival by the late Barbara Adams, wife of Festival founder Fred C. Adams. She was adamant that there be nightly pre-show entertainment that featured music, dancing, and––for many years––a Punch and Judy puppet show. Today the tradition of singing, storytelling, dancing, and audience participation on the green continues.

Enjoy these photos from previous productions of The Greenshow!

Silent Sky: 10 Fun Facts

Set in the intimate Eileen and Allen Anes Theatre, Silent Sky tells the true story of the unforgettable female scientist—Henrietta Leavitt––and her cohorts at the Harvard College Observatory who had an incredible impact on astronomy in the early 20th century.

“I am thrilled to explore this inspiring story of breaking barriers and the light in all of us, with a brilliant creative team of collaborators at the Festival,” Director Melinda Pfundstein said. “I can’t wait to begin.”

This is the first time the play has seen Festival stages, so enjoy these ten fun facts below to prepare you for the production. Visit our study guide to learn more about the characters to fully appreciate the facts listed below.

1. Pfundstein is returning to the Festival, having directed The Book of Will, The Merchant of Venice, and All’s Well That Ends Well, among others. She has acted in over 30 Festival productions throughout the years, some of her favorites being Mother in Ragtime, Margaret in Richard III, and Constance in King John.
2. Lauren Gunderson also wrote the play The Book of Will, so although this is Pfundstein’s first time directing Silent Sky, it isn’t her first Gunderson play.
3. Gunderson isn’t only a playwright, but also a musical book writer, screenwriter, and short story/children’s author. She also writes for The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She has also been one of the most produced playwrights in America (American Theatre Magazine) since 2015, topping the list three times.
4. Before devoting her studies to writing, Gunderson once dreamed of being a physics major. This makes sense as many of Gunderson’s works highlight scientific progress.
5. Henrietta Leavitt made a scientific discovery that changed the world of astronomy forever. She is known for the discovery of the relationship between period and luminosity in Cepheid variable stars. This led to the first distance measurement for a galaxy outside the Milky Way. Ultimately, Leavitt’s discoveries made it possible to map out the universe. The pictures of stars on glass plates that Leavitt used to make her discoveries are still in the Harvard archives.
6. Leavitt worked alongside the famous Scottish astronomer Williamina Fleming, who is known for her discovery of the Horsehead Nebula in 1888 and many other astronomical contributions. Leavitt’s coworker Annie Cannon’s work was also imperative to the development of stellar classification.
7. Following her 1892 graduation from Radcliffe College, Leavitt lost most of her hearing after contracting a serious illness.
8. Projections will be used in the Festival’s production to replicate and illuminate the starry sky. “Light and projection, designed for our play by Jaymi Smith and Joe Payne, will literally paint the picture of the galaxy and the various scene settings, as we navigate the characters’ journey to understanding the light of the stars,” Pfundstein said.
9. Katie Cunningham, who is playing Henrietta Leavitt, was last at the Festival in 2019 and played roles in The Book of Will, Macbeth, and Twelfth Night.
10. Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha is taking on the role of Peter Shaw in Silent Sky, alongside playing Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop.

Silent Sky previews on July 12 and runs until October 5. Visit bard.org/plays/silent-sky to purchase tickets.

Meet the Cast: Silent Sky

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is excited to announce the cast of Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Melinda Pfundstein.

Telling the true story of nineteenth century scientist Henrietta Leavitt, the play is a celebration of science, family, discovery, female achievement, and the light in all of us.

“I hope this story inspires our audience to consider the wonder in their own lives. The relationships they hold dear, and the legacy they hope to leave through the expression of their own light in the world,” Pfundstein said. “I believe that this play is an invitation to do just that.”

The cast is as follows:

Katie Cunningham is returning to the Festival as Henrietta Leavitt in Silent Sky. Previous roles at the Festival include Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Rebecca Heminges in The Book of Will, Maria in Twelfth Night, and more. Off-Broadway credits include those at The Actors’ Company Theatre. Other credits include eleven seasons at Clarence Brown Theatre, Asolo Rep, PlayMakers Rep, and more. She received a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Florida State University and a bachelor of arts degree from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Head of Acting at University of Tennessee, Knoxville and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Kat Lee is returning to the Festival as Margaret Leavitt in Silent Sky. Previous roles at the Festival include Mrs. Weston in Jane Austen’s Emma The Musical, Lady Montague in Romeo and Juliet, and Ensemble in Ragtime and The Greenshow. Other credits include A Christmas Carol at Denver Center, Clue at Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Into The Breeches at Lyric Repertory Theatre, and more. Lee received the Festival’s 2023 Michael and Jan Finlayson Actor Award. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Otterbein University.

Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha is debuting at the Festival as Peter Shaw in Silent Sky and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop. He has performed at LaJolla Playhouse, Seattle Rep, and Asolo Rep, and many others. Television credits include Days of Our Lives, NCIS-LA, All My Children, and more. Film credits include Shirley (starring Regina King) and 8989 Redstone. Murtadha is a founding member of Africana Repertory Theatre of IU Indianapolis, an ensemble member of the Fonseca Theatre Company, and on the artistic board of Crescent City Stage in New Orleans. Awards include Best Actor at the New Orleans Short Film Festival and the NAACP Award for Best Ensemble at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. He is an Assistant Professor in the BFA Acting program and Co-Artistic Director of The Mosaic Theatre Company at Auburn University. Murtadha received a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University and Master of Fine Arts from University of California, San Diego. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Alia Shakira is debuting at the Festival as Annie Cannon in Silent Sky and Camae in The Mountaintop. Other credits include The House That Will Not Stand at Horizon Theater, A Lady and A Woman at Impact Theater, numerous plays at New Federal Theatre, and more. Television credits include The First Lady, The Come Up, Woke, and the film The Color Purple. Shakira received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Howard University and is thrilled to be making her Festival debut.

Sarah Shippobotham is returning to the Festival as Williamina Fleming in Silent Sky. She previously played Duchess of York in Richard III and multiple roles in Pericles, The Comedy of Errors, and The Conclusion of Henry VI: Parts Two and Three at the Festival. She recently wrote and performed in the world premiere of her one-woman show Can I Say Yes to That Dress at Salt Lake Acting Company. She has worked as a voice and dialect coach at the Shaw Festival for eighteen years and as a dialect coach at Pioneer Theatre Company. She received her education at the Royal Central School of Music and Drama in London and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales, and is thrilled to be back for another season.

Produced in the intimate Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre, Silent Sky previews July 12 and runs until October 5. Visit bard.org to purchase tickets.

Welcome to the 2024 Seasonal Company

The Utah Shakespeare Festival welcomed this summer’s seasonal company on Monday, May 6, with an opening meeting and a day full of first rehearsals, costume measurements, tours of the facilities and workspaces, and more for those working to put the 2024 season together.

While there have been some seasonal staff in Cedar City who started the build process earlier this year, the majority of the performing company, production artists, stage managers, and company management staff began on or around May 6. Additionally, the lead design teams, including directors, designers (scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection), choreographers, dramaturgs, music director, fight/intimacy directors, voice and text coaches, props, and hair and makeup artists began their work last fall, though most didn’t arrive on site until last week.

Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr and Artistic Director John DiAntonio enthusiastically welcomed all those in attendance at the opening meeting in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.

“You are in an extraordinary place,” said DiAntonio. “You’re at 6,000 feet elevation, in a rural mountain town––where it can snow at any instant [referencing the late spring snow storm the day before]––surrounded by national parks, some of the best artists in the nation, and a community that is thrilled to have you. I hope you fill your cup this season.”

That evening the Guild of the Utah Shakespeare Festival hosted a welcome dinner in the courtyard of the beloved retired Adams Memorial Theatre for all those artists spending their summer in Cedar City. Also in attendance were year-round staff, families and friends, and special guests.

Over 300 seasonal staff come to town, many of whom return year after year, calling the Festival their artistic home. They come from all over the country, including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Denver, among many other places. Later, closer to the shows’ openings, more staff will arrive, including house management/ushers, ticket office staff, and concessions personnel. In addition, volunteers from the local community fill out the ranks of people it requires to put on a successful season.

The casts and crews have approximately six weeks to rehearse and build five shows for the Engelstad and Randall Theatres, as well as three different Greenshows, with preview audiences arriving on June 17. The second wave of performing company members, lead design staff, and production artists arrive mid-June to prepare two more shows, these for the Anes Studio Theatre. These productions welcome audiences on July 12.

“It’s simply incredible the amount of work and artistry that goes into making sure the season is ready to welcome our guests––the audiences,” says Bahr. “Our 63rd season promises to be one celebrating history makers and extraordinary characters. Don’t miss it!”

Tickets are available by calling 800-PLAYTIX or visiting bard.org. The season runs through October 5.

Shelley Takes Helm as Education Director

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is pleased to announce that Stewart Shelley has been appointed as education director following Katherine Norman’s departure last month. He has been with the Festival for two years in other education roles and is excited to take on the position as director.

Education is a fundamental part of the Festival’s mission. Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr believes Shelley will carry on the educational legacy that has distinguished the Festival for decades and provide a vision for its continued growth.

“Stewart has such a love for the work of educating students, patrons, teachers, and anyone interested in learning more about the world of theatre and Shakespeare,” says Bahr.

Artistic Director John DiAntonio emphasizes Shelley’s influence on the Festival’s success in building connections through education: “He has played an essential role in the Education Department over the last two years, creating a major impact on the Festival’s renowned Shakespeare Competition, our audience engagement work in the Seminar Grove, the recent Bard’s Birthday Bash, and much more.”

Shelley attended Brigham Young University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts Education, and later earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University.

He spent 19 years as a high school theatre teacher. Stewart’s experience with the Festival runs deep, as he attended the Festival’s Shakespeare Competition as a teenager and later brought his own students to the competition as a teacher.

“The programming that Michael Bahr and Katherine Norman created as former education directors is really strong and rooted in the community,” says Shelley about the durability of the education program at the Festival.

DiAntonio adds, “Stewart, too, brings a wealth of experience and deep knowledge, especially of the Utah educational system. I cannot wait to see where he and the team take the Education Department in the years to come.”

Programs overseen by Shelley’s department throughout the year include the Shakespeare in the Schools tour, PlayTeam workshops, and Shakespeare Competition, among other things.

During the summer they manage the pre-show orientations and post-show play seminars in the Balcony Bards Seminar Grove. They are also responsible for Backstage Tours, Shakespearience, School Days, and summer camps and classes.

Speaking of which, now is the perfect time for anyone interested in participating in summer camps and classes to sign up! Shelley encourages students of all ages to dive in and learn more about the Bard.

“Playmakers Summer Day Camp is a perfect way for youth who are local to play on the stage,” says Shelley. Created for students ages five to seventeen, it’s perfect for those who have never been on a stage before to those who love to perform. It runs June 10-22, from 2-4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Students have the chance to build theatre skills through movement, voice, improv, and more, with a final Saturday performance for family and friends. Registration closes May 31.

Other youth camps include Junior Actor Training (for ages twelve to fourteen) on July 15-20 and Theatre Training (for ages fifteen to eighteen) on July 22-27, both of which are sleep-away camps where students get to work with professional Festival actors or production staff. Space in both is limited and registration closes July 5 and 12, respectively.

Teachers can also get in on fun summertime classes too. “Teaching Shakespeare” is specifically for English and Theatre educators and takes place July 15-18. “Tech for Teachers” is July 29-31 and is a great in-person professional development course for any educator or director, taught by Festival technicians and experts. Registration closes July 1 and 17, respectively.

For tuition costs or more information about these and other education offerings, please visit bard.org/about/education, call the Education Department at 435-865-8333, or email usfeducation@bard.org.

Meet the Cast: The Mountaintop

The Utah Shakespeare Festival excitedly announces the cast of The Mountaintop, directed by Cameron Knight. Knight is returning to direct at the Festival, having directed The Tempest and Richard III in the past.

Following Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., audience members watch as he confronts both his mortality and the future of his work.

“It puts a human touch and human connection on the legend that is Martin Luther King Jr. and brings him back down to the people,” Knight said.

Although fictional, the play shows themes of being a figurehead versus a private human.

“I love how bold the play is, and how bold Katori Hall was willing to tell some truths about Dr. King and race and race relations in this country,” Knight said. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

The cast is as follows:

Abdul-Khaliq Murtadha is debuting at the Festival as Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop and Peter Shaw in Silent Sky. He has performed at LaJolla Playhouse, Seattle Rep, and Asolo Rep, and many others. Television credits include Days of Our Lives, NCIS-LA, All My Children, and more. Film credits include Shirley (starring Regina King) and 8989 Redstone. Murtadha is a founding member of Africana Repertory Theatre of IU Indianapolis, an ensemble member of the Fonseca Theatre Company, and on the artistic board of Crescent City Stage in New Orleans. Awards include Best Actor at the New Orleans Short Film Festival and the NAACP Award for Best Ensemble at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. He is an Assistant Professor in the BFA Acting program and Co-Artistic Director of The Mosaic Theatre Company at Auburn University. Murtadha received a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University and Master of Fine Arts from University of California, San Diego. He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.

Alia Shakira is debuting at the Festival as Camae in The Mountaintop and Annie Cannon in Silent Sky. Other credits include The House That Will Not Stand at Horizon Theater, A Lady and A Woman at Impact Theater, numerous plays at New Federal Theatre, and more. Television credits include The First Lady, The Come Up, Woke, and the film The Color Purple. Shakira received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Howard University and is thrilled to be making her Festival debut.

Produced in the intimate Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre, The Mountaintop opens July 13 and runs until October 5. Visit bard.org to purchase tickets and to read the content advisory for the play.

Shakespeare in the Schools: Hamlet Tour Concludes

The Utah Shakespeare Festival would like to acknowledge and celebrate the closing of their 2024 tour of Shakespeare in the Schools. This year, a team of nine theatre professionals brought a condensed version of Hamlet, one of the world’s most recognized plays, to K-12 students.

Members of the touring company were Tour Manager Kellie M. Beck, Stage Manager Fiona Misiura, and actors (left to right in photo) Blaize Adler-Ivanbrook, Abigail Rose Nakken, Darin F. Earl II, Adam Koda, Gianna Porfano, Isa Guitian, and Darci Ramirez.

Throughout the Intermountain West, the Festival’s touring program serves both rural and urban students and communities, providing access to professional theatre. The tour began in February and closed April 20, concluding with a total of 52 performances and 9,360 audience members served.

Tour Director and Education Director Stewart Shelley noted that the tour was a “soul-filling experience.”

“This year’s company brought such creativity, passion, and professionalism to our production of Hamlet, my personal favorite of Shakespeare’s,” Shelley said. “I am so grateful for the meaningful connections the company made with students, teachers, administrators, and communities around the state and Intermountain West region.”

The tour provided students with the opportunity to see Shakespeare performed live––often for the first time. Festival Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr noted that seeing the students engage with the play was a joy.

“They would gasp at moments of surprise, as a group reacting to major plot moments, and respond back to actors during key monologues,” Bahr said. “Every student should have the opportunity to see this important play from Shakespeare’s canon, come to life, on-stage, and not just studied from a text.”

For Bahr, it was imperative for students to see the production because Shakespeare’s plays teach lessons that everyone can learn from, and “a live production is the best way for this to happen."

Shakespeare in the Schools brought one of the Bard’s most gripping tragedies to the students, creating an intimate and impactful experience in the classroom.

“How fortunate for those thousands of students to take in the greatest tragedy ever written in the middle of an ordinary day of classes,” Artistic Director John DiAntonio said.

Koda, who played the role of Hamlet, reflected on the educational tour, noting that it was a dream to work with the company.

“The work always felt meaningful; I went to bed every night knowing that the next generation of artists is full of passion and excitement for theater,” Koda said.

Earl returned to the 2024 Shakespeare in the Schools tour to play Claudius/Ghost, after having participated in the Othello tour in 2023.

“I knew I wanted another opportunity to connect with the students in the Intermountain West with more creatives who were excited to learn from the students as well,” Earl said.

Theatre changed Earl’s life after discovering it in high school. And now, bringing the production to students was a way to help “young ones embrace themselves, challenge themselves, and even surprise themselves by engaging in something as timeless and accessible as Shakespeare.”

With education an important and valuable part of the Festival’s mission, the Shakespeare in the Schools tour is imperative to keeping the arts alive and thriving.

“The [tour] helps build the next generation of Shakespeare superfans,” DiAntonio said.

For more information on the Festival’s Education Department, visit bard.org/about/education. This summer, camps and classes will be offered for both students and educators. To sign up and for more information, click here.

Festival Celebrates Shakespeare’s Birthday with 23rd Annual Bard’s Birthday Bash

The Festival celebrated William Shakespeare’s 460th birthday last week with a three-day bash consisting of jousting, dancing the Maypole, performances, theatre games, birthday cake with Queen Elizabeth, and more.

The 23rd Annual Bard’s Birthday Bash took place on April 22-24 this year and hosted nearly 1,000 students.

“This three day celebration of William Shakespeare with Iron County’s K-5 students is a highlight of the year,” Education Director Stewart Shelley said. “The opportunity to share our love of Shakespeare with such eager and willing young people is inspiring and energizing.”

Since the Festival was founded in 1961 by the late Fred C. Adams, the Festival has celebrated the importance of Shakespeare’s works and continues to recognize him as the cornerstone of its mission. Hosting this event is a way to not only celebrate the Bard, but it’s a wonderful way to involve the community.

“These are some of my favorite days at the Festival, because we get to share with our youngest patrons our love of Shakespeare and pass that love along to the next generation,” Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr said. “This event gives us another opportunity to open up the Festival to our friends and neighbors.”

Recently-appointed Artistic Director John DiAntonio was able to attend the Bard’s Birthday Bash for the first time this year. What made the event even more special was that DiAntonio was able to bring his own children.

“What an amazing energy buzzing around [Festival grounds] all week,” DiAntonio said. “My three and five-year-old were able to go through the stations today. They met the Queen and were even knighted after the jousting competition. What a fun event for these local kids!”

To register for next year’s Birthday Bash, email usfeducation@bard.org with the name of the school, the teachers, contact information, and the approximate number of students. For information about the Festival’s upcoming season and to purchase tickets, visit bard.org or call 1-800-PLAYTIX.

Tell your Students about Theatre Summer Camp: Ages 5-18 Can Train with Theatre Professionals

Festival summer camps are the perfect chance for young aspiring artists to experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with professionals.

“Getting to see a Festival production and then study with the artists who you just saw onstage, or who work behind-the-scenes, is a unique opportunity for students,” says Education Director Stewart Shelley.

For those thinking about attending––or know students you might enjoy a summer theatre camp, here are several reasons to sign up today:

• It’s a chance to work with and learn from the artists you see onstage in Festival productions.
• Summer camps allow you to spend a week learning and playing with other like-minded students and theatre lovers.
• You can choose your focus! For high school students, there’s the option to study acting or technical theatre with Festival professionals. Unsure about sleep-away camp? That’s okay; choose what’s best for you and participate in our day camp instead.
• For those excited about our overnight camps, you can look forward to staying in Southern Utah University student housing and being completely immersed in the world of professional theatre.
• There are scholarships available! Please click here for more information on the program you are interested in.

Playmakers Summer Day Camp
June 10-22, 2024
Ages 5-17

From 2-4pm Monday to Friday, students will have the opportunity to build theatre skills through movement, voice, improv, and more, with a final Saturday performance.

Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes May 31, 2024.

Junior Actor Training
July 15-20, 2024
Ages 12-14

Taught by professional Festival actors, this week-long sleep-away camp is for young actors who want to train in scene work, stage combat, voice and movement, and more.

Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes July 5, 2024.

Theatre Training
July 22-27, 2024
Ages 15-18

This program allows students to choose their focus: Acting or Technical Theatre. Taught by professional Festival acting and production company members, this pre-college professional training program is for high school students looking for a week-long intensive sleep-away camp.

Click here to register and for tuition costs and more information. Registration closes July 12, 2024.

Questions for the Education Department? Call 435-865-8333 or email usfeducation@bard.org.

It’s not too early to purchase tickets for the 2024 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, as well. The play lineup for the 63rd season includes Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, The Winter’s Tale, The Taming of the Shrew, and Much Ado About Nothing, along with the hilarious The 39 Steps, the moving Silent Sky, and the inspirational The Mountaintop. The season runs June 17 through October 5.