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Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Type: Cultural Venues
10Best Says
With a season that lasts just two months during which only a handful of plays are staged, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival is the second oldest Shakespeare festival in the country and has been... Read More
With a season that lasts just two months during which only a handful of plays are staged, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival is the second oldest Shakespeare festival in the country and has been recognized as one of the top three in the United States. Part of its indisputable charm is its popular setting in the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, tucked into a serene grove on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. There is an indoor theater as well, where typically half of the productions are staged. Shows go on even during summer rain showers and are rarely cancelled, so bring a rain jacket just in case. Shows are typically at either 7 or 8 p.m., depending on the day.
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EXPERT TIPS BY:
Christine Loomis
Denver Local Expert
- Best Attractions & Activities: "Go early and picnic on the Green while Shakespeare-themed entertainers, think minstrels and jesters, amuse you. For the more cerebral, the artistic director of the show usually offers a free and information-filled prologue in the theater about 45 minutes before the curtain rises. (Picnicking remains available under COVID protocols but some pre-theater elements have been on pause so check ahead.)"
- Recommended as Best Attractions & Activities Because: Since 1958 the festival has celebrated and interpreted the Bard with thought-provoking productions in an intimate and engaging setting.
