On June 7, the 听kicks off a season of Shakespeare鈥檚 most popular plays and one award-winning new play with a Shakespearean twist.
The summer season begins with Twelfth Night,听opening in the . As You Like It听kicks off the indoor season in the University Theatre. Both productions will feature live music composed specifically for CSF.
Performance extras
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鈥檚 opening night.
A beloved CSF tradition, CSF offers a free preshow talk before most performances, given by the producing artistic director or another CSF staff expert.听Come late;听come early.
Following most performances, remain in the theater听for a talkback discussion with members of the company. The talks are听announced during the curtain speech prior to the performance.
The Hellems Lawn and Shakespeare Garden听are open for picnicking with friends and family听75 minutes before showtime.听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.
Enjoy some pre-show entertainment in the Shakespeare Garden before many of our outdoor performances.听
Spend some time before taking your seat听and visit the courtyard between the Hellems and Education buildings. Here, a passionate team听cultivates and gardens dedicated to the plants that Shakespeare knew and memorably referenced in his plays.
The season also will feature Romeo and Juliet听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 are available through CU Presents, as well.听Here鈥檚 everything you need to know about the 2019 season.
Twelfth Night
June 7 to Aug. 11听 Mary Rippon Theatre听听
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 .听, who made her CSF debut in 2018鈥檚 Love鈥檚 Labour鈥檚 Lost,听will lead as Viola; CSF听favorites and also are set to perform.
As You Like It
听June 21 to Aug. 10 University Theatre听听
Directed by , this show听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 , who is on-site for a two-week residency to collaborate with the cast during rehearsals.
Romeo and Juliet
听July 7 to Aug. 10 Mary Rippon Theatre听听
Shakespeare鈥檚 epic romantic tragedy will feature extensive sword fighting on stage, choreographed by director .听 is designing the costumes, which will feature elaborate, couture takes on the Renaissance period.
King Charles III
听July 19 to Aug. 11 听University Theatre 听
Mike Bartlett鈥檚 鈥渇uture history play鈥� 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鈥� Circle Award-winner and Olivier Award-winner for Best New Play, as well as Tony nominee for Best New Play.
King John
听Aug. 4 听Mary Rippon Theatre听听
Part of CSF鈥檚 Original Practices tradition, this sold-out, one-night-only event will feature the CSF company performing Shakespeare鈥檚 play in the original style his audiences might have enjoyed in the early 1600s.
