On the heels of its most successful and well-received season to date, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival announced its 2016 season, which will run Friday, June 3 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. Opening with Shakespeare鈥檚 farcical "The Comedy of Errors," the festival鈥檚 10-week season also includes the regional premiere of Bill Cain鈥檚 "Equivocation," along with "Troilus and Cressida," "Cymbeline" and "Henry VI, Part 2," an original practices performance (see event dates, locations and descriptions below). Season tickets are now on sale; single tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 30.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e celebrating the myths, legends and fairy tales of Shakespeare,鈥� said CSF Producing Artistic Director Tim Orr. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also an artistically ambitious season, and one that鈥檚 particularly exciting and engaging for the whole family. We鈥檙e especially proud to present plays that鈥攍ike 'Troilus and Cressida,' last staged in the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre in 1964鈥攄on鈥檛 come around very often. Or a play like 'Equivocation' that鈥檚 brand new to our audiences.鈥�
Tickets are available on the 听and at the CU Presents box office, 303-492-8008. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located in the University Club on the CU-Boulder campus.听
"The Comedy of Errors"
17 performances
Friday, June 3 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016
Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre
From the creative mind behind the CSF鈥檚 triumphant "A Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream" (2013), "The Comedy of Errors" is Shakespeare鈥檚 purest comedy鈥攚ith a twist. Set in jazzy, sexy 1930s Paris, this hilarious new production bends the classic adventure of mistaken identities in a different direction that puts the women in charge...and the men in their places. Sultry singing, cabaret nightlife, puns and punchlines, this is Comedy, inside out.听"The Comedy of Errors" is directed by Geoffrey Kent, versatile and highly-acclaimed CSF director, fight choreographer and actor for more than 12 years.
"Equivocation" by Bill Cain
17 performances
Regional premier
Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016
University Theatre
Reluctant playwright and sleuth 鈥淪hag鈥濃�攁ka William Shakespeare鈥攆inds himself at the perilous crossroads between artistic integrity and survival when King James I commissions him to rewrite the history of England鈥檚 infamous Gunpowder Plot. Under the Orwellian gaze of a security state not far removed from today鈥檚 headlines, he must find a way to tell the truth without selling his soul. "Equivocation" is 鈥渓ike nothing you鈥檝e seen before鈥� (Broadway World).听"Equivocation" is directed by Wendy Franz, founding member, director and producer of Denver鈥檚 Paragon Theatre.
"Troilus and Cressida"听
9 performances
Friday, June 24 through Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016
Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre
God-like heroes, embattled kings, doomed love and a sinister, snarky clown make Shakespeare鈥檚 epic of the Trojan War one of his greatest legends. Like grown-up versions of Romeo and Juliet all too familiar with life鈥檚 stark realities, the eponymous lovers face painful choices in this mythic m茅lange of drama, comedy and history. "Troilus and Cressida" is听directed by Carolyn Howarth, director of the CSF鈥檚 2015 critically-acclaimed 鈥淗enry V.鈥�
"颁测尘产别濒颈苍别"听
10 performances
Thursday, July 14 through Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016
University Theatre
Cymbeline is a vassal king of the mighty Roman Empire, but Britain herself remains a wild and untamed land in this mythic, idyllic romance. When the king banishes Posthumus鈥攈is beautiful daughter鈥檚 illicit, low-born husband鈥擨mogen flees into a Welsh forest that still rings with Britain鈥檚 legendary past. By turns comic, heroic and harrowing, this tale of gods and villains, lovers and warriors, brings the entire CSF company together onstage. "Cymbeline" is directed by Jim Helsinger, artistic director of the Orlando Shakespeare Festival and director of the CSF鈥檚 2015 smash hit 鈥淢uch Ado About Nothing.鈥�
"Henry VI, Part 2"听
One night only
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre
Summer 2016鈥檚 hottest ticket is a single performance of "Henry VI, Part 2"鈥攖he latest of the CSF鈥檚 widely hailed 鈥渙riginal practices鈥� productions on one of America鈥檚 most iconic outdoor stages. Shakespeare鈥檚 razor-sharp exploration of England鈥檚 War of the Roses, which also inspired the hit cable series "Game of Thrones," drives toward the thrilling conclusion of one of his greatest cycles. All previous 鈥淥P鈥� shows sold out months in advance鈥攄on鈥檛 miss it.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the .
