Our Special 2025 Anniversary Season is Here
For the 25th season we are celebrating the very best of Shakespeare including the return of Hamlet directed by Michael Sexton in Shakespeare Glen, the launch of a brand new family-friendly production inside the Saint Louis Zoo with life-size puppets by Michael Curry Design based on Romeo & Juliet and a remount of Tre’von Griffith’s magical region-wide tour of A Midsummer Night Dream. The summer will conclude with the previously announced Shakespeare in the Streets in East St. Louis in September.
In addition to the full summer season of outdoor theater, the Festival is hosting a 25th Anniversary Gala Celebration at the The Sheldon on Thursday, May 15. Featuring a perfromance of Thinking Shakespeare Live! with acclaimed Shakespeare director, author and producer Barry Edelstein that is open to the public. Gala sponsorships and general admission tickets are available now!
Scroll to the bottom for even more events around the St. Louis including thrilling partnerships with the Missouri Botanical Gardens, the Missouri History Museum, the the 5th annual Confluence New Play Festival.
Read the full press release to hear more from Producing Artistic Director Tom Ridgely and Michael Macek, President of the Saint Louis Zoo. Press Release.
An Expanded Forest Park Season
Hamlet
MAY 28 - JUN 22
Free in Forest Park
Written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. Directed by MICHAEL SEXTON. Free for all to attend, no reservations required. A limited number of paid reservations are on sale now.
Make A Reservation
Romeo & Zooliet
JUL 8 - AUG 17
Shakespeare in the Zoo
A wild new play at the Saint Louis Zoo featuring puppets by MICHAEL CURRY DESIGN. Directed by TOM RIDGELY. Tickets are now on sale!
Learn MoreFor One-Night-Only
25th Anniversary Gala Celebration & Performance
MAY 15
The Sheldon Concert Hall
With a special performance of "Thinking Shakespeare Live!" with BARRY EDELSTEIN featuring a cast of local actors.
Tickets Available NowIn the Community
A Midsummer Nights Dream
AUG 19 - SEP 13
TourCo: Free in Public Parks
Written by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. Directed by TRE'VON GRIFFITH.
Learn More
Shakespeare in the Streets
SEP 26, 27 & 28
Free in East St. Louis
Written by DEASIA PAIGE. Directed by KATHRYN BENTLEY.
Share Your StoriesOff-Stage
Nature Speaks with Author Gerit Quaely
April 24, 2025 at the Missouri Botanical Garden
Join us for special collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Nature Speaks series – an experiential opportunity integrating nature, learning, and art. Author, lecturer and actor Gerit Quaely will give an engaging talk on her book Botanical Shakespeare: An Illustrated Compendium of All the Flowers, Fruits, Herbs, Trees, Seeds, and Grasses Cited by the World’s Greatest Playwright.
More event announcements coming soon!
Past events:
Confluence New Play Festival – March 27-29, 2025 at 3333 Washington
Take part in the development of new work at the annual Confluence New Play Festival. Three new plays commissioned by the Festival will premier as stage readings to members of the public and our theater industry friends. Join us for plays by the 2024 cohort: Aurora Behlke (St. Louis), M. Kamara (Carbondale) and Aaron Scully (Warrensburg).
2025 Season Partners
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s commitment to radically accessible free theater is made possible through the support of hundreds of Festival members and supporters throughout the year. Lead support of the 2025 Season comes from:
The Pershing Charitable Trust, The Bellwether Foundation, The Trio Foundation of Saint Louis and The Strive Fund.
As well as the Mary Ranken & Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation, Thompson Coburn LLP, First Bank, Gertrude & William Bernoudy Foundation, Dula-Kobusch Charitable Trust, Biggs Family Charitable Foundation, Carter Community Memorial Trust, Clifford Willard Gaylord Foundation
2025 Season Key Art Design and Type by Daniel Frumhoff
Illustration by Nan Cao