Everything you need to know about the 65th anniversary season — shows, tickets, insider tips, and where to eat before the curtain rises. From a Cedar City local who's been going for years.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is the single biggest reason people visit Cedar City between June and October — and for good reason. This Tony Award–winning festival draws over 100,000 patrons a year to the Southern Utah University campus for world-class theater you'd normally have to fly to New York or London to see.
Whether you're planning your first visit or you're a returning fan, this guide covers everything: the 2026 lineup, how to get tickets, which venues to pick, the free stuff most visitors miss, and where to eat before the show.
The 2026 season runs June 18 through October 3 and features eight productions across three theaters. This is the Festival's 65th anniversary — one of the longest-running Shakespeare festivals in the country.
| Show | Dates | Theater |
|---|---|---|
| Troilus and Cressida | June 18 – September 3 | Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre |
| Hamlet | June 19 – September 4 | Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre |
| Twelfth Night | June 20 – September 5 | Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre |
| Something Rotten! | June 22 – October 3 | Randall L. Jones Theatre |
| See How They Run | June 23 – September 4 | Randall L. Jones Theatre |
| She Loves Me | June 24 – October 3 | Randall L. Jones Theatre |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | July 13 – October 3 | Anes Studio Theatre |
| The Book Club Play | July 14 – October 3 | Anes Studio Theatre |
The mix is strong this year: classic Shakespeare (Hamlet, Twelfth Night), a deep cut (Troilus and Cressida), a hit musical (Something Rotten!), a romantic musical (She Loves Me), a gothic adaptation (Frankenstein), and two comedies (See How They Run, The Book Club Play). There's something for everyone, including people who think they don't like Shakespeare.
All three venues are in the Beverley Center for the Arts on the SUU campus. You can walk between them in under two minutes.
This is the flagship — an outdoor Elizabethan-inspired stage modeled after historical Globe Theatre designs. Open to the Utah sky, it's where the Shakespeare plays run. Evening shows here are magic: the sun sets behind the red hills, the stars come out, and you're watching Hamlet under the same kind of sky Shakespeare intended. Bring a light jacket — desert nights cool off fast, even in summer.
The indoor, climate-controlled option. This is where the musicals and contemporary plays run. The seating here is more traditional and the acoustics are excellent. If you're seeing Something Rotten! or She Loves Me, you're here. No weather concerns, comfortable year-round.
The intimate black-box venue. With only 200 seats, every spot is close to the action. Frankenstein and The Book Club Play both run here. These tend to be more experimental or intense productions, and the small space amplifies that. If you like theater that gets under your skin, prioritize the Anes shows.
Tickets range from $25 to $80 depending on the show, theater, and seating section. All official tickets are sold through bard.org or by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX (752-9849). The Festival does not use third-party ticket platforms.
Student discount: Children ages 6–18 and students with a valid ID get $10 off any ticket.
Local resident discount: If you live in Iron, Beaver, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Piute, or Lincoln counties, you can buy day-of tickets at 50% off. This is one of the best deals in Southern Utah — same show, half the price, just walk up that day.
Multi-show savings: The more shows you see, the more you save per ticket. If you're staying a few days, plan to see at least two or three — the per-ticket cost drops and the variety makes the trip memorable.
Popular shows like Hamlet and Something Rotten! sell out fastest, especially for Friday and Saturday evening performances. Book those early. Midweek matinees are the easiest tickets to get and tend to have the most relaxed atmosphere. If you're flexible on dates, Tuesday through Thursday gives you the best selection.
The shows are the headliner, but the Festival offers a full day of free programming that most first-timers walk right past. Here's what you should not skip:
The Greenshow (FREE, nightly at 7:10 PM, summer only): This is the pre-show tradition. Live music, Renaissance dancing, comedy, and performances on the outdoor stage. Bring a blanket, grab something from a food vendor, and sit on the lawn under the shade trees. It runs about 40 minutes and sets the mood perfectly for the 8:00 PM show. Locals treat this as the real start of the evening.
Play Orientations (FREE, daily at 6:00 PM): A 20-minute talk by a Festival dramaturg explaining the play you're about to see — historical context, themes to watch for, what the director is going for. These are surprisingly useful, especially for the Shakespeare plays. Even experienced theatergoers learn something.
Backstage Tours (FREE): See the costume shop, prop storage, and set-building operation. The level of craftsmanship is impressive — everything is built on site.
Production Seminars (FREE): Deep dives into specific plays with directors and actors. These are the best free programming the Festival offers if you want to understand how a production comes together.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 2:00 PM | Matinee performance (if seeing two shows) |
| 4:30 PM | Walk Historic Main Street, browse shops |
| 5:00 PM | Pre-show dinner downtown (make a reservation) |
| 6:00 PM | Play Orientation (free, campus) |
| 7:10 PM | Greenshow on the lawn (free, bring a blanket) |
| 8:00 PM | Evening performance |
If you're only seeing one show, arrive by 5:00 PM for dinner, catch the orientation and Greenshow, and you'll have the full experience without rushing.
Downtown Cedar City is a short walk from the Festival campus, and several restaurants are well-practiced at getting theatergoers fed and out the door in time. A few standouts:
Centro Woodfired Pizzeria: The best dinner option within walking distance. Wood-fired pizzas, fresh salads, craft drinks. It's our number-one restaurant recommendation in Cedar City and the most popular pre-show choice. See our full Cedar City restaurant guide for more options.
The French Spot: Perfect for a lighter pre-show meal — crepes, croissants, espresso. Great for matinee days when you want something quick but not fast food.
Bristlecone: Fresh lemonades, bagels, sandwiches. A solid casual option if you want to grab something and eat on the lawn before the Greenshow.
Pro tip: If you're eating dinner before an 8:00 PM show, make a reservation for 5:00 PM. The restaurant rush hits between 5:30 and 6:30 as everyone tries to eat before the orientation. Get ahead of it.
The Festival is on the Southern Utah University campus in Cedar City, right off I-15 (Exit 62). Cedar City is about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas and 3.5 hours from Salt Lake City.
Parking is free. The main lot is on the northwest corner of 300 West and Center Street, a short walk to all three theaters. On busy nights (Friday, Saturday), arrive by 6:30 PM to get a close spot. Overflow parking is available on campus and surrounding streets — it's never a real problem.
If you're staying at one of our short-term rentals in Cedar City, the Festival campus is about a 5-minute drive from most parts of town, and you can skip the hotel parking situation entirely.
Layer up for outdoor shows. The Engelstad Theatre is open air. Cedar City sits at 5,800 feet elevation, and summer nights can drop into the low 60s or even 50s by the end of a show. A fleece or light jacket is not optional — it's essential.
See more than one show. The repertory format means different plays run on different nights. You can easily see two or three shows over a long weekend. This is how regulars do it, and the variety is part of the experience.
Don't skip the Greenshow. It's free, it's fun, and it puts you in exactly the right headspace for the main event. Grab food from a nearby vendor, spread out on the lawn, and enjoy.
Combine with other Cedar City activities. The Festival runs all summer, which means you can pair it with hiking at Cedar Breaks, Kanarraville Falls, or any of the other activities in the area. Morning hike, afternoon nap, evening Shakespeare — that's a perfect Cedar City day.
The Anes Theatre sells out fast. With only 200 seats, the Studio Theatre shows (Frankenstein and The Book Club Play) are the first to go. If you want the intimate experience, don't wait.
Festival season is peak tourism for Cedar City. Hotels book up, especially on weekends. A short-term rental gives you more space, a kitchen (great for breakfast before a day of activities), and the feel of actually living in town rather than just visiting.
Our properties — The Fortress and The Zen Den — are both in Cedar City, minutes from the Festival campus and downtown dining. They're set up for exactly this kind of trip: comfortable base, easy access, no stress about parking or logistics.
How long is a typical show? Most performances run 2 to 2.5 hours, including an intermission. The Studio Theatre shows tend to be shorter (90 minutes to 2 hours).
Is it appropriate for kids? Most shows are family-friendly, but check the Festival's content advisories for each production. The comedies and musicals (Twelfth Night, Something Rotten!, She Loves Me) are generally the safest bets for younger audiences. Frankenstein and Hamlet are more intense.
What if it rains during an outdoor show? The Festival has contingency plans for weather. Shows are rarely cancelled but may be delayed or moved. Check bard.org or call the ticket office on the day of your performance if weather looks questionable.
Can I buy tickets at the door? Sometimes, but popular shows sell out. Your best bet is buying in advance at bard.org. Remember, locals can get 50% off day-of tickets.
Where can I learn more? The Festival's official site at bard.org has the full calendar, seating charts, and detailed information on every production.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is one of the best reasons to visit Cedar City — and one of the best reasons to live here. If you're thinking about making Southern Utah home, or you want to explore what else Cedar City has to offer, check out our complete guide to things to do in Cedar City or find the best places to eat.