Utah Shakespeare Festival Announces Upcoming Season

The Utah Shakespeare Festival recently revealed its 2014 season, eight plays running from June 23 to October 18. Artistic Directors David Ivers and Brian Vaughn announced the season, which includes four plays ranging from Shakespeare classics to a Stephen Sondheim musical to a world premier adaptation of a beloved novel.

Tickets for the 2014 season go on sale June 24, 2013. They are available via the Festival website, www.bard.org; telephone, 800-PLAYTIX; or at the Ticket Offices at the Adams Shakespearean and Randall L. Jones theatres.

The Adams Shakespearean Theatre will feature three plays by William Shakespeare, playing from June 23 to August 30. First is the Festival's continuation of its History Cycle with the third play in Shakespeare's theatrical chronicle of England and its kings: Henry IV Part One. This follows the first two in the series produced in 2013: King John and Richard II. The History Cycle will continue chronologically through all ten plays in future years.

Also in the Adams Theatre will be two more Shakespeare plays (Measure for Measure and The Comedy of Errors) which are part of the Festival's ambitious Complete the Canon Project, an ongoing initiative to produce all of Shakespeare's thirty-seven plays between 2012 and 2023.

In the Randall L. Jones Theatre will be a new adaption of Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility, commissioned by and premiering at the Festival and written by Joseph Hanreddy and J. R. Sullivan, and Stephen Sondheim's brilliant fairytale-inspired musical, Into the Woods. These two shows will run from June 23 to August 30.

In addition, the Randall Theatre will host a fourth Shakespeare play, also part of the Complete the Canon Project: Twelfth Night. One of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, Twelfth Night will play throughout the Festival season, from June 23 to October 18. Rounding out the late end of the season will be playwright Steven Dietz's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, a mystery adventure about the world's most popular detective, and Boeing-Boeing a high-flying farce by French playwright, Marc Camoletti. Both will play from September 20 to October 18.

"I think 2014 embodies the perfect balance of progressive programming for the Utah Shakespeare Festival," said Artistic Director David Ivers. "Most importantly, by producing four of Shakespeare's plays we further deepen our connection to our namesake playwright. I'm particularly excited that Twelfth Night will have such a long run in the Randall, allowing Shakespeare to be exposed to our loyal guests and new students across many regions."