Summer Shakespeare Festival

Bard Day's Night -- Three dynamic Shakespeare productions return to the the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at the Tony Award ®-winning Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park.

Running in a nightly rotation this season:

  • Much Ado About Nothing -- One of the most popular and charming of Shakespeare’s comedies, Much Ado About Nothing features the original battle of the sexes couple - Benedick, an arrogant and confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice his favorite sparring partner. While Beatrice and Benedick hide their infatuation beneath witty barbs, young love blossoms as Hero and Claudio race to the altar. When the wicked Don John conspires to break up the wedding, will false accusations and misunderstandings prevent the young couple’s happy ending? Witty wordplay, passionate poetry and clever plot twists make this the perfect romantic evening under the stars.

  • The Tempest -- Romance, magic and a deserted island - the final and most beloved masterpiece of Shakespeare’s life places the desire for revenge against the demands of love and captures the essence of the human condition with its compelling and timeless themes. Marooned on a distant island with his daughter Miranda, Prospero has spent twelve years perfecting his magic. When he learns that a ship bearing his old enemies is sailing near the island, with the help of the spirit Ariel, he raises a torrential storm, bringing within his grasp the enemies who robbed him of his dukedom. An enchanted tale filled with humor, romance and adventure, The Tempest is ultimately a tale of redemption and forgiveness.

  • The Tempest -- Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Academy Award for Best Film, Amadeus weaves a confrontation between mediocrity and genius into a tale of breathtaking dramatic power. In the court of the Austrian Emperor Josef, Antonio Salieri is the influential composer. Enter the greatest musical genius of all time: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri loathes Mozart and is obsessively jealous of his talent. Salieri realizes that his talent is no match for Mozart’s genius, and sets out to destroy his rival. This theatrical masterpiece, part biography and part murder-mystery, is filled with some of the greatest music ever composed and will bring to life one of the greatest composers of all time.

The Summer Shakespeare Festival runs May 29th through Sept. 23rd. Learn more at theoldglobe.org.

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