Shakespeare under the stars!

THIS July 9 – August 3, the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival will feature two full-length productions of King Lear and Twelfth Night, on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. To accommodate growing demand, Capital Classics will stage ten rotating performances of each play, running Wednesday through Sunday evenings for four weeks. And, tickets are on sale now, too!

General Admission tickets for each show are $25. The discount ticket price for seniors (65 and up), full-time students (with ID), active military (with ID), groups of 10 or more is $17. For audience members wanting to see both King Lear and Twelfth Night, there is a multiple-show price of $20 for each show at the General Admission rate; $15 per person for each show for seniors, full-time students, active military, and groups of 10 or more. In addition, groups of 10 or more can also get special reserved lawn locations. West Hartford Chamber members and USJ alumni, faculty, and staff can also purchase tickets for the discounted price of $20 each.

Want more reasons to come to the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival? How about…

• a beautiful outdoor setting

• picnic with your family and friends

• one epic tragedy and one raucous comedy

• discounts to see both shows

• food and beverages for sale

• pre-show entertainment of music and dance

• sound amplification

• free parking

• & more

Get directions and performance info to make the most of your Festival experience.

ABOUT THE plays

King Lear — Directed by Sasha Brätt

In one of Shakespeare's most towering tragedies, King Lear finds the aging monarch of Britain dividing his kingdom between his three daughters. After demanding a test of their love, Lear is duped when two his daughters - Goneril and Regan - promise an exaggerated fealty to their father. His youngest and most favored daughter, Cordelia, refuses to join her sisters in their excessive theatrics and finds herself banished and disinherited. After Lear hands his realm to Goneril and Regan and their scheming husbands, he finds himself outcast and descending into madness. Can he reunite with his exiled daughter or will they both succumb to treachery and corruption? See where Succession started!  

Twelfth Night, or What You Will — Directed by Brian Jennings

In this delightful romantic comedy, twins Viola and Sebastian are separated after a shipwreck. Viola falls into the service -- and in love with -- Duke Orsino, while disguised as his servant, Cesario. Her first task? Wooing Orsino's intended, the Countess Olivia, who finds herself smitten with Cesario. In true Shakespearean fashion, Viola encounters fights, fools, and mistaken identities. Will she reunite with her brother, win the heart of the Duke, or will she end up married to the Countess herself?

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Our Feature Sponsor is the Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut.

• Wednesday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the USJ Dance Ensemble at 7 p.m. Daily Sponsor: Timothy & Mary Jane Sheehan.

• Thursday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with South American music by Elqui Duo at 7 p.m. Daily Sponsor: Dom's Broad Street Eatery.

• Friday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. You can also purchase mini donuts from Indulge by Palazzo at the show. Daily Sponsor: Liberty Bank.

• Saturday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. You can also purchase mini donuts from Indulge by Palazzo at the show. Artist Matt Pelletier, MadeForThisART, LLC, will be LIVE painting a portrait of Shakespeare and selling limited-edition prints of performers. Daily Double Sponsor: Calculate, LLC.

• Sunday, July 13 at 5:30 p.m. — King Lear and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. There will also be a 25-minute, pre-show interview at 5 p.m. with Capital Classics Dramaturg Milla Riggio on why King Lear is her favorite play. The interview will be moderated by Christina Flood, USJ Librarian and Professor of the First-Year Seminar in Theater, and Capital Classics Board President Edwin Thrower. Daily Sponsor: Senior Helpers/Shaneka Miller

• Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with singer-songwriter Christopher John to perform pop and rock music from the 50s to the 90s AND the USJ Dance Ensemble before the show. Daily Sponsor: Cantor Colburn, LLC and Hartford Yard Goats.

• Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with South American music by Elqui Duo at 7 p.m. Daily Sponsor: Hartford Athletics.

• Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. Daily Sponsor: Kala & Prasad Srinivasan

• Saturday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. Artist Matt Pelletier, MadeForThisART, LLC, will be LIVE painting a portrait of Shakespeare and selling limited-edition prints of performers. Daily Double Sponsor: Calculate, LLC

• Sunday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. We will also have free activities for children from 4:30-5:15 p.m. The nonprofit P.E.A.C.E (Powerful Experiences for Art & Cultural Exchange) with lead children through a choice of two activities: (1) dressing paper dolls to represent characters in Twelfth Night or (2) painting a balsa model ship, representing the ship in Twelfth Night. Children must be accompanied by an adult. You can order free tickets for this activity when purchasing your performance tickets. There will also be a 5-10 minute pre-show talk at 5 p.m. by Dr. Aidan Levy, USJ English Professor. Aidan will also moderate a talkback with the cast after the show. Daily Double Sponsor: Adams & Knight.

• Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the USJ Dance Ensemble at 7 p.m. We will also have an interactive experience with "For All Ages" where two strangers can sit and have a conversation. You can also purchase mini donuts from Indulge by Palazzo at the show.

• Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with South American music by Elqui Duo at 7 p.m. You can also purchase dinner from Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ at the show.

• Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. You can also purchase dinner from Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ at the show. Daily Double Sponsor: Hoffman Auto Group.

• Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. Artist Matt Pelletier, MadeForThisART, LLC, will be LIVE painting a portrait of Shakespeare and selling limited-edition prints of performers. Daily Sponsor: NBT Bank

• Sunday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m. — King Lear and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. There will also be a 5-10 minute pre-show talk at 5 p.m. by Dr. Anthony Johnston, USJ Education Professor and actor. Anthony will also moderate a talkback with the cast after the show. Daily Double Sponsor: Adams & Knight.

• Wednesday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with singer-songwriter Christopher John at 7 p.m. to perform pop and rock music from the 50s to the 90s. Enjoy Kona Ice of Manchester for a cold treat!

• Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with South American music by Elqui Duo at 7 p.m. You can also purchase mini donuts from Indulge by Palazzo at the show.

• Friday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. Daily Double Sponsor: Hoffman Auto Group.

• Saturday, August 2 at 7:30 p.m. — King Lear with the Elizabethan Consort at 7 p.m. Enjoy Kona Ice of Manchester for a cold treat! Artist Matt Pelletier, MadeForThisART, LLC, will be LIVE painting a portrait of Shakespeare and selling limited-edition prints of performers. Daily Sponsor: Wealthspire Advisors.

• Sunday, August 3 at 5:30 p.m. — Twelfth Night and delicious treats from OneSong Biscotti. We will also have free activities for children from 4:30-5:15 p.m. The nonprofit P.E.A.C.E (Powerful Experiences for Art & Cultural Exchange) with lead children through a choice of two activities: (1) dressing paper dolls to represent characters in Twelfth Night or (2) painting a balsa model ship, representing the ship in Twelfth Night. Children must be accompanied by an adult. You can order free tickets for this activity when purchasing your performance tickets. There will also be a 15-minute pre-show talk at 5 p.m. by Dan Russell, Co-Owner of Sea Tea Theater in Hartford and Improv Teacher. Daily Sponsor: The McAuley.

And, our Festival Sponsor is the Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut.

Every performance, you can also enjoy:

• the Art Museum at USJ will be open before every performance and during intermission for an air-conditioned view of their amazing art collection — from Georgia O'Keeffe, Sol LeWitt, and more.

• lobby displays of our past Festival posters, designed by Cipher Creative Group, and a collection of one-of-a-kind dolls dressed like characters from King Lear and Twelfth Night