Support us

Question: What is it that has two plays, 20 performances, and a goal of 4,500 fans?
Answer: The 35th anniversary of our Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival!

Join us in 2026 for…

  • Two full productions: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Measure for Measure

  • More than 55 CT-based professional actors, musicians, designers, and technicians

  • Extra performances and microphones

  • Expanded pre-show entertainment, concessions, and cast talk-backs

Double the Shakespeare, Double the Production Costs

We need you! Help us meet our expanded budget with an individual donation, sponsorship and/or program ad.

Individual donations can be made quickly, easily, and securely via credit/debit card, PayPal, and Venmo. You can also mail a check to our address below. AND, if your company has a matching program, please be sure to submit your donation for a match.

Donations

Explore ways to become a sponsor and market your business to our in-demand audience.

sponsorships

Advertise in our Festival program to reach 4,500 professionals, seniors, and families.

program ads

CARS FOR BARD

Did you know you can donate your old car — in any condition — to Cars Helping Charities and the net value after the sale will be donated to Capital Classics!

Won’t run? Didn’t pass emissions? Cars Helping Charities will take it.

The process is easy! They handle all of the title paperwork, towing, etc. And, you’ll be supporting our Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival, since Capital Classics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that’s now listed with Cars Helping Charities.

Learn more

INdividual donors

producerS

Anonymous

Barnaby Horton & Hannah Granfield-Horton

Kane-Fischer Family

Matthew Morgan

DirectorS

Dennis Jakiela & Sandra Barnes

Alison Rogers-Mccoy

Laura & Geoffrey Sheehan 

PatronS

Julie Ackerman

Anonymous

Herb Emanuelson & Susan Kerr

William Fuller

Gary Greenberg & Jeannie Hayden

George & Rebecca Hardman 

Mindy & Jeremy Jason

Mass Mutual

Owen McNamara

Christina and Ezra Ripple

Deb Shulansky

David Silverman

Edwin and Rachel Thrower

Chris & Jennifer Whalley

SupporterS

Patrick Bowen & Emily Shearier

Madeline Perez De Jesus and Anthony De Jesus 

Diane Erdos

Brian Federman

Donald Logie

Natasha Lunin

Tony & Juan Johnson-Torres

Paul Volpi

FRIENDS

Donations at the Friends Level are listed in our Festival program.

grantors

connecticut Office of the Arts: Arts Endowment Fund
Connecticut Office of the Arts: Supporting Arts Grant

with the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency

The John and Kelly Hartman Foundation

Thanks to our presenting partner, the University of Saint Joseph and Hoffman Auditorium!

a special thank you to all our individual and business donors, who we recognize regularly in our event programs.

Fueled by our marketing partners