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Indy’s ‘Bard Fest’ Shakespeare festival returns this year with six all-new productions across five theaters in the city. July saw the first outdoor production at the Arts for Lawrence Fort Ben Cultural Campus. Then, the theatres produced Shakespeare’s magical A Midsummer Night’s Dream to great acclaim. “Shakespeare at the Fort” was a runaway hit.
Bard Fest continues to bring the region’s finest actors to Indianapolis and provide unique visions of the Bard of Avon along with modern classical contemporaries.
Bard Fest, Indy’s only annual Shakespeare Festival, was founded by Indiana-based theatre companies to bring a professional-quality yet intimate Shakespeare festival experience to Hoosier audiences. Through partnership with regional theaters, Bard Fest is able to not only provide paying work for local area actors, but also provide unique visions under one intimate roof. Bard Fest holds to the truth that Shakespeare is universal. As Harold Bloom wrote, “Shakespeare is the inventor of what it means to be human.” Theater provides a human connection and social commentary like no other art form.
Bard Fest was first conceived by Glenn Dobbs in the spring of 2015. Launching with an admittedly “overly ambitious” schedule of eight productions by three different production companies, the festival was “wildly successful.” Dobbs is now the executive producer and artistic director of Bard Fest. John Clair, Max McCreary, Nan Macy, Jonathen Scoble, and Kevin Robertson serve as associate producers.
Bard Fest begins in October with The Prestige Project at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. This ongoing venture is a foray into the world of classical theater. Lysistrata by Aristophanes, directed by local favorite Ms. Holly Hathaway, will explore the question, can women stop wars by refusing to have sex with the men?
On the heels of The Prestige Project will be three epic Shakespeare tales. The rarely produced drama of King John will be featured at the glorious Shelton Auditorium at Butler University. It is directed by Mr. Doug Powers. At the Indy 11 Stage on Mass Ave will be the new all-female adaptation of Richard II, directed by Mr. Glenn Dobbs. Next door at the Basile Theatre the hilarious Merry Wives of Windsor will take the stage. It will be directed by Mr. Jeff Bick.
Bard Fest finishes the 2022 season at The Theater at the Fort in Lawrence with the comedy Into The Breeches by George Brant. The show will be directed by Mr. Max McCreary.
The complete schedule of shows can be found at Indybardfest.com. The Festival will run from Oct. 7 to Nov. 13. Tickets can be purchased at Indybardfest.com.