Colorado Shakespeare Festival Announces 2019 Season

Next summer, June 7-Aug. 11, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) will present a season of Shakespeare's most popular plays, featuring iconic romances, heroines and an award-winning new play with a Shakespearean twist.

The summer season begins with "Twelfth Night," the comedy about thorny love triangles, mistaken identities and a pair of twins lost at sea. Opening outdoors in the Mary Rippon Theatre on June 8, the show centers around how love is blind, said CSF Producing Artistic Director Timothy Orr, who is set to direct.

"I love this play; it's my favorite in the canon because of the music, the games and the comedy but also the gentle discussions about love," said Orr. "And under the stars, it's just magical."

The season opener will also feature original live music from Rinde Eckert.

On July 7, "Romeo and Juliet"-Shakespeare's notorious tragedy about falling in love against all odds-will be added to the outdoor lineup. Directed by Christopher DuVal, it's a more complicated look at romance than "Twelfth Night."

"It's a play about falling in love with someone who your tribe tells you is the wrong person. And you don't get a choice or a say in that conversation," said Orr.

Indoors at the University Theatre, Carolyn Howarth will direct an intimate cast of eight actors playing every role in "As You Like It."

"People change and are cured through loving and being loved," said Howarth. "Even if they do not end up with a romantic partner, they put themselves on a quest for a better life through being shown mercy and love."

Rounding out the main plays of the season is a Bard-inspired work that will be new to Colorado audiences. "King Charles III: A Future History Play" by playwright Mike Bartlett uses Shakespearean-styled verse to envision a near future where personal privacy, public betrayals and a threat to free press collide in the days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Even though "King Charles III" isn't written by Shakespeare, the play is right in line with the festival's vision.

"Part of our mission is to expand the repertoire and explore new works," said Orr. "It takes place in the future, and yet it's written in verse-and very good verse as well. We just loved it. It's such an exciting story!"

Kevin Rich is set to direct CSF's production, which will be the regional premiere of the Tony-nominated Critics' Circle Award-winner and Olivier Award-winner for Best New Play.

Finally, on Aug. 4, Rich will direct the performance of CSF's Original Practices (OP) production-a one night only event where a Shakespeare play is performed as it would have been in his heyday.

The 2019 season begins Friday, June 7, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 11.

Tickets:

• Season tickets available beginning Monday, Oct. 29, 2018 at 10 a.m.
  • Online at coloradoshakes.org
  • Over the phone at 303-492-8008
  • At CU Presents Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Single tickets available beginning Monday, Nov. 26, 2018 at 10 a.m.