Utah Shakespeare Festival Announces 52nd Season: PETER AND THE STARCATCHER's Regional Premiere and More

Four Shakespearean classics, two hit musicals, an American stage icon about justice, and a regional premier of a new play are all scheduled as part of the 2013 season at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

The season was earlier approved by the Festival board of governors and the Southern Utah University board of trustees and was announced today.

The Festival’s 2013 season, its 52^nd, will run from June 24 to October 19. Even though the 2012 season of the Festival is just getting underway, tickets for next year are already on sale at the Ticket Office windows at the Festival, by calling 800-PLAYTIX, or by visiting us online at www.bard.org.

“Shakespeare is our cornerstone playwright, and we are excited for the next phase in our Complete the Canon campaign,” said Artistic Director David Ivers. Starting in 2012, the Festival is committed to produce Shakespeare’s entire canon of work over a period of twelve years, including completing his entire cycle of history plays in sequential order.

With that in mind, the Festival will present in the world-famous outdoor Adams Shakespearean Theatre the first in that history cycle, King John. Also in the Adams Theatre will be Shakespeare’s epic masterpiece The Tempest and the frothy romance Love’s Labour’s Lost. These three plays will run from June 24 to August 31. 

“In addition to featuring works by the Bard, we will return to producing two musicals in the season,” Ivers commented. Featured in the Randall L. Jones Theatre from June 24 to August 31 will be Cole Porter’s high energy musical Anything Goes. During the late season, September 18 to October 19, guests can enjoy favorite songs from the 50s and 60s in Roger Bean’s The Marvelous Wonderettes.

 Also in the Randall L. Jones Theatre will be the American theatre classic Twelve Angry Men from June 24 to August 31 and the second in Shakespeare’s history cycle, Richard II, from September 18 to October 19.

 The final 2013 production will be a regional premiere of the winner of five 2012 Tony Awards, Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Peter and the Starcatcher promises to be "a thrilling, imaginative, theatrical experience about Peter Pan, the boy who never grew, and all the memorable characters he encounters on his journey to Neverland. Fun and inviting for the whole family; this show is not to be missed." Peter and the Starcatcher will run all season from June 24 to October 19, in the Randall L. Jones Theatre.

 “Each play represents our continued commitment to explore master works of the theatre while entertaining and engaging our audiences in new and thrilling ways,” concluded Artistic Director Brian Vaughn. “It is a season of limitless possiblities.”