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Held in Cedar City, the annual Utah Shakespeare Festival (www.bard.org) is one of the oldest and largest Shakespeare festivals in the country. Plays typically run from June to October, while free greenshows, play orientations and seminars are held before and after the productions. It’s a fun option for the whole family, and since it runs for five months there’s plenty of flexibility for planning. Additionally it’s a very inclusive event, as all the theaters and venues at the Utah Shakespeare festival are accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers.

And although the lineup changes every year, here’s what’s on tap for 2025.

• The Importance of Being Earnest — June 20 to October 4
• Steel Magnolias — June 21 to October 4
• As You Like It — June 18 to September 6
• Macbeth — June 16 to September 4
• A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder — June 19 to October 3
• Dear Jack, Dear Louise — July 11 to October 4
• Anthony and Cleopatra — June 17 to September 15

Get your tickets early for these popular productions, They are available at www.bard.org or 800-PLAYTIX.

Wheelchair Access at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

Wheelchair access is first rate at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, starting with the traditional Engelstad Shakespeare. This outdoor venue features ramp access to the main level, and elevator access up to the balcony. Wheelchair-users have a wide choice of seats, with accessible spots available in the front and rear orchestra, as well as the balcony. Accessible parking is located a short roll away on Shakespeare Lane, and the theater also includes accessible restrooms.

The Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre features equally good access. Accessible parking is available on Shakespeare Lane, and a drop-off area is located next to the theater on University Avenue. There’s barrier-free access to the building, with accessible seating available in the front rows. Additionally, there’s a barrier-free path to the concession area and the accessible restrooms.

Last but certainly not least, the Randall L. Jones Theatre also offers accessible parking on nearby Shakespeare Lane. There is level access to the theater from the back patio, with accessible seating available in the back orchestra section. There’s also level access to the concession area and the accessible restrooms in this theater.

A Bevy of Free Events Too!

Although you have to purchase tickets to see the plays at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, there are also a number of free events.
At the top of the list are the informative Play Orientations. These sessions are held prior to the plays, and they help folks get a good overview about the productions. They are conducted by theater experts, and questions are welcome at all seminars. It’s a great preface to any Utah Shakespeare Festival production.

If you’d like to gain insight or ask questions about a performance, then plan to attend a Play Seminar, held the morning after the performance. Audience members have a chance to ask the actors and directors about specific points in plays, and the whole process invites a deeper understanding of the presented works.

And then there are the Prop Seminars and Costume Seminars. These popular programs are held a few days each week and they delve into some of the props and costumes used in the current productions. It’s not unusual to find out about a few inside secrets at these informative sessions.

Actor Seminars and Producer Seminars are also held a few days each week. This is your chance to ask the actors questions about their roles, or to discover how the festival is pulled together.

Finally, one of the most popular events — the Greenshows — are presented nightly before the evening productions. These lively presentations put you in a real Shakespearean mood, as they include lots of singing, dancing and storytelling. And there’s ample opportunity for audience participation, which makes it fun for the whole family. It’s a great prequel to any Utah Shakespeare Festival performance.

And the good news is, all the seminar venues are wheelchair accessible. So come and join the fun at the Utah Shakespeare Festival!