A few months ago, we had the chance to speak with Melinda Pfundstein, director of “The Book of Will,” and Lauren Gunderson, the playwright of “The Book of Will.” We spoke about the legacy of Shakespeare, the unique challenges of adapting a real-life story to the stage, and the stories of incredible women, both in this play and in Shakespeare’s work…

In this episode, we talk to Curt Tofteland, founder and producing director of Shakespeare Behind Bars, an organization which serves incarcerated adults and youth using exclusively the works of William Shakespeare, and TJ Penrod, a founding member of Off the Cuff Comedy Improvisation and a Juvenile Justice Program Facilitator here in Utah. A few res…

In this episode, we talk to Tim Sailer and Stefanie Resnick, who recently finished a four-month run playing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in our Shakespeare-in-the-Schools educational tour of Macbeth, about tour life, love, and the experience of playing this iconic Shakespearean couple.By Utah Shakespeare Festival

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Travis Curtright and Mary Curtright, founders of Shakespeare In Performance at Ave Maria University in Florida, to discuss love, both in Shakespeare’s plays and the lives of those that perform his works, their production research process, and what they lovingly call “troupe life.” We also get a visit from Queen Eliza…

In this episode, we talk to Fred Adams, founder of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Sam White, founder of Shakespeare in Detroit and director of “Twelfth Night” in our upcoming 2019 season, about the joys, challenges, and similarities of starting Shakespeare companies in 1961 and 2013, what they're looking forward to in 2019, and what, exactly, o…

Artistic Director Brian Vaughn, Director of this season's regional premiere of Shakespeare in Love discusses how the Festival acquired the rights, his inspiration for the show, and his insights into creating the world of William Shakespeare.By Josh Stavros

Lighting Designer Kirk Bookman discusses his inspiration for his designs, including this season's productions of Guys and Dolls, Treasure Island, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The TavernBy Josh Stavros

Elizabeth Marquis, Devery North, and Miriam Michaels, our Technician, Company Manager, and Stage Manager discuss the impact the Shakespeare-in-the-School's tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream has had on themselves and the students they visited.By Josh Stavros

Cast members Madison Kist and Stephanie Resnick from Shakespeare-in-the-Schools gave us an update on their tour experience as they approached the midpoint for the tour.By Josh Stavros

A conversation with the Utah Shakespeare Festival Education Director Michael Don Bahr about the importance of artistic partnerships and how those partnerships can strengthen the community.By Josh Stavros

Shakespeare-in-the-Schools cast members, Luke Sidney Johnson and Mara Lefler discuss their experiences in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and talk about their time as students at Southern Utah University.By Josh Stavros

Cast members for the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Alexis Baigue, Brandon Burk, and Karen Thorla, discuss their experiences at the Festival and expectations for the upcoming tour.By Josh Stavros

Britannia Howe, director of the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools touring production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, discusses her vision for this year's tour.By Josh Stavros

John Plumpis and John Wascavage talk about their experiences during this season's production of The Cocoanuts.By Josh Stavros

Actors Jeff Cummings and Rex Young discuss their roles and experiences in this season's production of Julius Caesar.By Josh Stavros

J.R. Sullivan, director of this season's production of The Odd Couple, discusses his experience during the production process.By Josh Stavros

Jim Poulos and Tasso Feldmen discuss portraying two of the four Marx Brothers in this season's production of The Cocoanuts.By Josh Stavros

Paul Helm and John Wascavage discuss their experience performing in the new Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre in this season's production of Murder for Two.By Josh Stavros

Brad Carroll, director of Murder for Two, discusses his experience directing this production in the new Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre.By Josh Stavros

Director Joseph Hanreddy discusses his vision behind this season's production of Julius Caesar.By Josh Stavros

Kim Martin-Cotten and Ben Livingston discuss their experiences playing Beatrice and Benedick in this season's production of Much Ado About Nothing.By Josh Stavros

Actors Sam Ashdown and Larry Bull discuss their experiences over the past three years performing in Henry IV Part One, Henry IV Part Two, and Henry V.By Josh Stavros

Festival Artistic Director David Ivers discusses his experience directing this season's production of Much Ado About Nothing.By Josh Stavros

Elizabeth Broadhurst and Eddie Lopez discuss their experiences at the Utah Shakespeare Festival for the 2016 season. Elizabeth and Eddie play Mary and Bert in this seasons production of Mary Poppins. They also appear in this seasons production of Henry V.By Josh Stavros

Karen Azenberg discusses her experiences directing the 2016 production of Mary Poppins.By Josh Stavros

BJ Jones discusses his experience directing the 2016 production of The Three Musketeers.By Josh Stavros

Director Melissa Rain Anderson discusses her experience during the 2016 season of the Utah Shakespeare Festival as the director of the Cocoanuts.By Josh Stavros

Artistic Director Brian Vaughn discusses his direction for Henry V, the evolution of the characters and why it's important that the Utah Shakespeare Festival gives it's audience a chance to see all the history plays in succession.By Josh Stavros

A conversation with actress Allie Babich who plays Hamlet in the Shakespeare in Schools touring production. Learn about the life on the road as a Shakespeare performer.By Josh Stavros

A conversation with Frank Honts, director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival's Educational tour of Hamlet. Learn more about the how the concept for the show came to be, why Shakespeare needs to be in schools, and why the production features a female cast as the lead role of Hamlet.By Josh Stavros

Enjoy a special Halloween episode of the Play On! Podcast here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Our host, Josh Stavros, sits down with Festival Education Director, Michael Bahr to discuss Dracula, vampires, fear, suspense on stage and screen and how we as modern audiences find ourselves in the theatre of the mind. What do you find scary? Why is it…

Actor, Chris Mixon sits down with us to discuss his roles here this season at the Festival. He plays Renfield in Dracula and Launce in The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Chris tells us how he got involved in theatre and the types of characters he has played. He discusses the role the "fools" play in Shakespeare's works and how they add to the world of th…

Check out the latest episode with sound designer, Brad Berridge. Brad designed for both Dracula and The Two Gentlemen of Verona for our fall season. Learn more about his journey in the arts, the process of a sound designer and listen to some sound clips from this season's Dracula! You don't want to miss this!…

Our incredibly talented musicians for this season's production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona, chat with us about gypsy jazz and how their outlaw band adds to the world of the play. They share with us some amazing music as we journey through Verona and Milan. You don't want to miss this episode!By Utah Shakespeare Festival

Jesse Berger, director of this season's Dracula, sits down with us to discuss his introduction into the arts, his approach to this classic tale and the symbolism throughout.By Utah Shakespeare Festival

Enjoy another great episode with the brilliant Robynn Rodriguez, director of this season's, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Learn more about Robynn's introduction into the world of theatre, her experience as both an actress and a director and her journey here at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Robynn sets this romantic comedy in the 1920s, during the "…

Enjoy a special episode! Ian Doescher is the author of Shakespeare’s Star Wars. Recently, the Festival hosted the annual Wooden O Symposium. The symposium is a cross-disciplinary conference exploring Medieval through Early Modern Studies, through the text and performance of Shakespeare’s plays. Scholars submit papers that offer insights and new ide…

Talented actresses, Betsy Mugavero and Kelly Rogers, discuss their hilarious roles in this season's production of Charley's Aunt. The two discuss their characters' backstories and how this fabulous farce communicates hope and optimism all while "splitting our sides" from laughter.By Frank Honts

Check out the newest episode with Allie Babich and Christine Jugueta from this season's production of South Pacific. Each of these actresses portray a different viewpoint and world within the story of this classic musical. Enjoy learning more about the melting pot of cultures on the island, the endless waiting, transformative love and how "peace in…

Festival Co-Artistic Director and Director of this season's production of Charley's Aunt, David Ivers, discusses his role as Antonio Salieri in this season's, Amadeus. David describes his passion for the role and the "gigantic intimacy" of the play. The duality of his character allows us to examine our own obsessions with mediocrity. You don't want…

Check out another great episode from the Festival's Properties Directors, Ben Hohman & Marielle Boneau. Ben and Marielle talk with us about their process in props, beginning with research, "internet spelunking", budgeting, building, maintenance, storage and much more! We also get an extended look at what Props Seminars are like more behind the scen…

Talented actresses, Melinda Pfundstein & Natasha Harris sit down with us to discuss their roles in this season's production of The Taming of the Shrew. They educate us on what it's like to play sisters on stage and how each character in the play is tamed in this interpretation of Shakespeare's classic comedy.…

Sam Ashdown and Larry Bull chat with us about their roles as King Henry and Hal in this season's production of Henry IV Part Two. Both open up about living with these characters as they play them in succession and their favorite moments in these roles. You don't want to miss this interview!By Frank Honts

In this special extended episode, we sit down with accomplished actor, Tony Amendola. He is playing the title role in this season's production of King Lear. Tony chats with us about his introduction into theatre and how he came to the Festival. He discusses the madness and logic that is found in King Lear and how we must all ask ourselves, "What do…

Festival Sound Designer, Joe Payne, sits down with us to discuss his concepts for this season's Shakespeare productions. Joe shares sound clips with us from King Lear, Henry IV Part Two and The Taming of the Shrew. He discusses why he loves working here at the Festival and how his goal is to support the musicality of Shakespeare in his designs.…

Associate Education Director Josh Stavros, sits down with us to discuss his direction for this season's Greenshow. He talks about his introduction to the Festival, the history and traditions of the Greenshow and why enjoying this production prior to any performance, only adds to the magic of the Utah Shakespeare Festival.…

Enjoy another great episode featuring this season's leads from Charley's Aunt! Michael Doherty, Tasso Feldman and Brendan Marshall-Rashid discuss the "roller coaster ride" of Charley's Aunt, giving us an inside perspective to the "mathematical equations" that help produce this fantastical farce.By Frank Honts

Michael Doherty, Aaron Galligan-Stierle and Eric Weiman sit down with us to discuss each of their characters in this season's production of The Taming of the Shrew. During this hilarious interview, these masters in comedy talk about their process and comedic idols. You don't want to miss this!By Frank Honts

Brad Carroll sits down with us to discuss his direction for this season's production of South Pacific. Brad helps us look deeper into this classic wartime romance and discover the universality of Rodgers & Hammerstein's infamous production.By Frank Honts

Sharon Ott, Director of this season's King Lear chats with new podcast voice, Frank Honts. As the Festival Dramaturg, Frank discusses with Sharon her approach to this production's design and themes. Sharon touches on the humanity found in the show and the realities of aging.By Frank Honts