Shakespeare 66 Summers of
T
im Orr’s history with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) began as an actor in 2007 — his favorite roles at the company include Lucio in the 2010 production of Measure for Measure and Horatio in the 2009 production of Hamlet. In 2011 he joined the staff as the associate producing director and was eventually promoted to his current role as producing artistic director. “It’s been a slow, steady progression every year,” Orr says. “We have been building the brand and
Boulder’s Premiere Shakespeare Festival returns June 11 with a focus on ‘hope within loss.’ BY TONI TESCA
expanding the budget by focusing on what we hope we do best, which is the plays of William Shakespeare.” The Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) has been delighting crowds since 1958. Last summer, the festival celebrated its 65th year in operation with its first full production season at its usual capacity since it was forced to cancel its 2020 season due to the pandemic.
In 2021, CSF produced an all-outdoor season in the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre before returning in full force in 2022. “It was great to be back,” says Orr. “And what I noticed from our patrons was that there was a real hunger for Shakespeare. “As a company, we want to mix in newer titles and create the classics of tomorrow,” Orr says, “but man, our audience really loves Shakespeare.”
In order to give patrons the classic Shakespeare they’re seeking, this year’s CSF will offer three classics from the Bard on the outdoor stage: Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear, and an original practice performance of The Comedy of Errors. But at the indoor Roe Green Theatre, the company will present a lesser known Shakespeare work, The Winter’s Tale, as well as One Man, Two Guvnors, Richard Bean’s contemporary adaptation of the 1743 Italian comedy Il servitore di due padroni.
All photos courtesy Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
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MAY 25, 2023
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BOULDER WEEKLY