Ignite your passion with William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Alfred Hitchcock, and Charles Dickens – all featured in the 2010 Summer season at the Utah Shakespearean Festival (300 W. Center Street, Cedar City, UT).  

The 49th season at the Festival will be one to remember, and tickets are on sale now at 1-800-PLAYTIX and www.bard.org. Tickets range from $21-$68. The Festival website also contains ratings for all nine plays to help patrons make selections that are best for their families. 

"The 2010 season offers something for every member of the family,” said Executive Director R. Scott Phillips. “We have built a slate of productions that can keep us current with the themes and issues of the 21st century, and yet remain true to the mission and values that have guided this Festival for the past 48 years.” 

Presented in the Adams Shakespearean Theatre from June 28 through September 4 will be three plays by Shakespeare. The romantic comedy “Much Ado about Nothing,” the sometimes controversial tragicomedy “The Merchant of Venice,” and the haunting “Macbeth.” Three additional plays will be presented in the Randall L. Jones Theatre from June 28 through August 28. A compelling adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” the hilarious Alfred Hitchcock mystery spoof “The 39 Steps,” and the world premier of “Great Expectations,” a new musical based on the novel by Charles Dickens.  

 “This is truly a season of classics. Everything from Charles Dickens to William Shakespeare to Alfred Hitchcock!” said Phillips. “The creative imagination is an amazing thing, and working with literature by some of the greatest writers in the English speaking world should generate some spectacular results. I feel as though this will be a season to remember." 

“The 2010 season concentrates on new adaptations of literary classics, film classics, and four of Shakespeare's magnificently complex plays which are genuine audience favorites,” added Kathleen F. Conlin, Festival associate artistic director. “Audience members will find witty and sensitive plays that entertain and enlighten in profound ways. Personally, I am thrilled by the overall ‘heft’ of these plays and how audience-friendly each of them is.” 

2010 Summer Season

“Much Ado about Nothing” features one of Shakespeare’s most memorable couples: Beatrice and Benedick. To them love is a game of wits. This vibrant and comic celebration of life and romance will introduce you to these famous lovers, and a host of villains, clowns, and eccentric characters. Audiences will cheer when this lively couple finally learns the realities of life, love – and themselves. 

Whether you consider this thought-provoking masterpiece a story of love and humor or one of racism and greed, Shakespeare’s controversial tragicomedy “The Merchant of Venice” will touch your soul. Its themes and memorable characters will reverberate in your heart, causing you to pause and think about justice and mercy, the complexity of human kind, and the nature of forgiveness and love. 

Shakespeare’s haunting and popular tragedy “Macbeth” is filled with witches, prophecy, and murder. The action of the play is spurred by a lustful wife’s ambition, and a driving taste for power that compels Macbeth to twist and tempt fate. But, in this psychological thriller, we find that murderous machinations are doomed to bitter and tragic failure.  

Jane Austen’s most popular novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” is brought to life in this new adaptation. In the story Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are desperate to arrange profitable marriages for their five beautiful daughters. However, when two eligible young men arrive in the neighborhood, excitement and passion begin to rule; and the Bennet household is in danger of being tipped firmly on its end. Fully capturing the spirit of the classic book, this adaptation is delightful, romantic, and fun for the entire family. 

The Tony Award-winning Broadway smash “The 39 Steps” is where Hitchcock meet hilarious. This sidesplitting mystery spoof will keep you guessing till the end. Filled with murder, betrayal, and espionage that intertwine sly and hysterical nods to many of Hitchcock’s films. This is one of the funniest plays to ever hit Broadway or the Festival. See if you can figure out whodunit as this cast of four transforms into over 150 characters. 

The Festival is thrilled to be hosting a world premiere musical based on Charles Dickens’ sweeping novel “Great Expectations.” This exciting tale depicts the adventures of young Pip in his struggles and triumphs to find his place in the world. Dickens’ timeless prose is interwoven with soaring music to pose questions about life’s expectations and realities, and reveal the happiness that comes when we trust in our hearts. Considered by many to be Dickens’s greatest novel, this actor driven, fully orchestrated musical promises to be an adventurous, captivating journey.   

Media Contact: Amanda Caraway, 435-586-1969, Caraway@bard.org