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.