Freedom Rider at Alabama Shakespeare Festival

Alabama Shakespeare Festival (ASF), the State Theatre of Alabama, builds community by engaging, entertaining, and inspiring audiences through transformative theatrical experiences and impactful education and outreach programs. Since its founding in a high school auditorium in Anniston in 1972, ASF has grown into one of the nation's premier regional theatres. Designated the State Theatre of Alabama in 1977, the Festival moved to its award-winning performing arts complex in Montgomery in 1985, where it continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone for Alabama and the Southeast. Today, ASF produces a dynamic season of Shakespeare, classic and contemporary plays, Broadway musicals, theatre for young audiences, and bold, new works that reflect the richness and diversity of the human experience. As one of Alabama's most cherished cultural institutions, ASF enriches lives, strengthens communities, and expands the cultural identity of the South through the power of live theatre. Education has been central to ASF's mission from the beginning. Since its inception, the Festival has served more than one million students through educational programming. Each year, its acclaimed SchoolFest student matinee series introduces nearly 25,000 students to the excitement and inspiration of live, professional theatre. Learn more at ASF.net.