Shakespeare under the stars!

THIS July 10 – August 4, the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival will feature two full-length productions of Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew, on the campus of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. To accommodate growing demand, Capital Classics has expanded the schedule to include ten rotating performances of each production, running Wednesday through Sunday evenings for four weeks. Click on the TICKETS button below for the complete performance schedule.

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 Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew, 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

 ABOUT THE CAST

Casting for lead roles have also been announced for both productions with Capital Classics veterans returning to the outdoor stage. Mauricio Miranda (member of Actor's Equity Association, Benedick in Capital Classics' Much Ado About Nothing, and Hartford Stage's A Christmas Carol) will portray the psychologically complex Hamlet. Eddie Cruz, Jr. (Capital Classics’ As You Like It and Water by the Spoonful) appears as Petruchio opposite Kiera Sheehan (Capital Classics’ Macbeth, As You Like It, and other productions) as Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew. Hamlet will be directed by Capital Classics’ Artistic Associate Geoffrey Sheehan, and The Taming of the Shrew will be directed by Jan Mason.

 ABOUT THE plays

Hamlet — “A young college student is called home, after the death of his father, to find his mother quickly remarried to his uncle. What else does he find upon his return? Generational differences in what's important. The power of established means of social and political rule versus the youthful importance of humanity and morality. Not to mention the ghost of his dead father. Who does one trust in an established world that young people may not wish to participate in? Can you even trust yourself?” - Geoffrey Sheehan, Hamlet Director & Capital Classics Co-Founder  

“Love wrought these miracles” says the character Lucentio as we near the end of Act IV of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, a play about identity, disguise, unmasking – and yes – about the miracles wrought by love. Petruchio sets out to “tame” Katherina, a “shrew,” but ultimately love changes every character who falls under its spell in this boisterous comedy about courtship and marriage. Who is the “tamer,” and has anyone been truly “tamed?” - Jan Mason, Director of The Taming of the Shrew

Performance schedule — final performance!

• Sunday, August 4 at 5:30 p.m. — The Taming of the Shrew and a pre-show talk about the play at 5 p.m. with Anthony De Jesús, MSW, Ed.D., Ed.M. (Associate Professor of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice at USJ), with food for sale by USJ concessions and OneSong Biscotti.

And, 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, Mary Cassatt, and more.