Entertainment & Events

As the Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a professional Equity theatre company (LOA/LORT) dedicated to producing world-class classical plays.  Now in preparation for our 25th Anniversary Season, we perform in Jackson’s lovely Baughman Theatre and in Canton’s beautiful Village Theatre of Cherry Hill.

2019 Season

• King Lear

  

  At the height of his power, his land at peace, King Lear of England abdicates his throne, dividing his power between his loyal daughters with the simple caveat that he be treated with the respect due a king. But without the mantle of kingly power, his deceitful offspring strip him of his honor, driving him into madness and the entire country into war. Lear’s blindness to the true nature of his children is mirrored by his loyal friend Gloucester’s destruction at the hands of his own treacherous illegitimate son. Considered by many to be the greatest of all Shakespeare’s plays, KING LEAR combines tragic family drama with epic storytelling, giving us the most heroic and the most malevolent characters in Western drama. Directed by MSF Artistic Director Janice L Blixt and featuring John Lepard, MSF Artistic Associate Alan Ball, and Festival Favorite Shawn Pfautsch.

  Day	Time
  Thursday, July 11, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Friday, July 12, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Saturday, July 13, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Saturday, July 20, 2019	2 p.m.
  Saturday, July 27, 2019	2 p.m.
  Sunday, July 28, 2019	3 p.m.

• Two Gentlemen of Verona

  

  Valentine and Proteus, two young gentleman of Verona, are the best of friends. Even Proteus’ love of the fair Julia cannot break their bond. When Valentine travels to Milan, Proteus misses his best friend and is thrilled to learn that Valentine has fallen in love with Sylvia, daughter of the Duke of Milan. Proteus and Julia exchange vows of love, rings, and intentions to marry—vows he breaks when, upon traveling to Milan to see his friend, he too falls in love with Sylvia. The heartbroken Julia disguises herself as a page to follow the man she loves. Will our young lovers and fast friends find themselves and each other again? Full of mistaken identity, wacky clowns, outlaws, and lovers, Shakespeare’s first romantic comedy combines silly fun with heartfelt connection and redemption. Directed by Artistic Associate Robert Kauzlaric.

  Day	Time
  Saturday, July 13, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Sunday, July 14, 2019	3 p.m.
  Saturday, July 20, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Friday, July 26, 2019	7:30 p.m.

• Cyrano de Bergerac

  Cyrano de Bergerac is the most dangerous and daring of soldiers, the most romantic and stirring of poets, and the most brilliant and biting of wits in 1640s Paris. He also has the largest nose Paris has ever seen—a nose that keeps him both humbled and embarrassed by his looks and, therefore, keeps him from revealing his deep love for the beautiful Roxane.  When Baron Christian arrives to join Cyrano’s company, the Guards of Gascoyne, Roxane expresses interest in the handsome-yet-dim young man. Sacrificing his happiness for hers, Cyrano agrees to help Christian by giving him the words to woo their lady.  Edmond Rostand’s 1897 epic, translated into English by Brian Hooker in 1923, is a romantic, adventurous, and glorious comic-drama that has instilled itself as part of the classical cannon and introduced theatre goers to the concept of “panache.”  Directed by Artistic Director Janice L Blixt and featuring Artistic Associate and Festival Fight Director David Blixt.

  Day	Time
  Thursday, July 18, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Friday, July 19, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Sunday, July 21, 2019	3 p.m.
  Thursday, July 25, 2019	7:30 p.m.
  Saturday, July 27, 2019	7:30 p.m.