"You shall be welcome."
—Love's Labour's Lost
If this is your first time visiting the Utah Shakespeare Festival, welcome! We hope this guide will answer your basic questions.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a Tony Award-winning, professional theatre located on the campus of Southern Utah University that presents Shakespeare and plays from other playwrights every June through October in three theatres at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts.
The Englestad Shakespeare Theatre is an outdoor replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
The Randall L. Jones Theatre is an indoor modern theatre.
The Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre is an indoor modern black box theatre.
Many activities surround the on-stage performances and create a more festive, in-depth experience. These include Repertory Magic, Backstage Tours, and the Words Cubed. Free activities include Play Orientations, Actor Seminars, Costume Seminars, Prop Seminars, Play Seminars, and The Greenshow.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Repertory Magic; Backstage Tours; and Actor, Costume, and Props Seminars are canceled for the 2021 season.
Tickets are available by phone (435-586-7878 or 800-PLAYTIX), online here, or at our new centralized ticket office located near the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre.
There is so much happening at and around the Festival and you won't want to miss a thing. Check out these sample itineraries for schedule help and ideas.
Repertory simply means that more than one play is playing during the same time period. In the case of the Festival, that means that six plays open in the course of a week and alternate performances throughout the season. In addition, three other plays open later during the season. What it allows for you is the chance to see six or eight different plays in the course of a few days. Refer to our calendar for dates and times.
The Festival makes various discounts available for seniors, AAA members, schools, and groups. For information, call the ticket office. Discounts are not available online.
Children enjoy the Festival Child Care.
Children must be six years of age or older in order to attend Festival performances, but children of all ages love to see The Greenshow. Professional childcare is available during all Festival performances. The cost is $10 per child, and reservations must be made through the Ticket Office at 800-PLAYTIX or online.
Each play page of the website contains additional information about the play, including articles, photos, and study guides, to help you make an educated decision.
Free parking is available near all the Festival theatres. Festival guests can park free in designated Southern Utah University parking lots. (See map.)
Weather does affect you in the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre, please try to dress appropriately. Performances will continue during inclement weather, possibly after short delays. We will make every effort to complete the performance, even if it is raining. Umbrellas are not allowed, but rain ponchos are appropriate. If a performance is cancelled before intermission, a credit will be issued to all guests in attendance at that performance. The Festival will not issue credits if the show is canceled after intermission.
There is no dress code. Many choose to wear casual attire. Consider wearing layers in anticipation of the weather in the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre. Also, the air conditioner of the Randall L. Jones Theatre could cause you to want a sweater.
Seating assignments are valid only until the performance begins. Latecomers will be seated only during an appropriate break in the play's action, in available seats, as determined by management. Assigned seats will be accessible at intermission.
Concessions in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.
Drinks (with lids) purchased in our concession areas are allowed in all of our theatres; food purchased in our concession areas is allowed in the outdoor Engelstad Theatre only.
Tickets may be reprinted at any ticket office with proof of identification. However, please arrive early at our ticket office near the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre to facilitate this process.
Actor Seminars: Meet the Festival actors and ask questions about their roles, careers, and experiences. Information is available here.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Actor Seminars are canceled for the 2021 season.
Lodging: A number of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and vacation rentals in the area support the Festival. We encourage you to support them in return. (See list.)
Dining: Whet your appetite for the plays at one of the restaurants that support us. (See list.)
Take home lasting souvenirs of your Festival experience by picking up cards, books, souvenir programs, jewelry, clothing, and many other items at the Festival Gift Shop in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre and the Randall Gift and Gallery in the lobby of the Randall L. Jones Theatre.
All Festival theatres are accessible to persons with disabilities and are equipped with hearing-enhancement headsets, available for no charge in the theatre lobbies. Captioned performances are scheduled for each production; check the calendar for dates. Please inform the Ticket Office when you purchase tickets if you need any accessibility services. All accommodations should be requested at least seven working days prior to attendance.
All times listed are Mountain Time.
Cedar City is located in the highest concentration of national parks in the world. For more area attractions, click here.
Top photo: Nikolas Mikkelsen (left) as ensemble, Natasha Harris, Brett Gardner, and Samuel Clein as musicians in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 2015.