After a Three-Year Layoff, Houston Shakespeare Festival Returns to Miller Outdoor

Houston Press July 21, 2022 4:00AM

Miller Outdoor Theatre will once again play host to the Houston Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Ben Corda

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "11591218",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "4"
          },{
            "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "11591214",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          },{
            "name": "R1 - Beta - Mobile Only",
            "component": "12287027",
            "insertPoint": "8",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "8"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11591215",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "11591215",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
        ]

Houston Shakespeare Festival returns to the Miller Outdoor Theatre this year for the first time since 2019 in live performances of King Lear and Cymbeline.

Scheduled for July 28 to August 6, the plays are shown in repertoire and are free to everyone whether in (somewhat air conditioned) seats in front of the stage or up on the hill.

King Lear is, of course, the story of an older king with three daughters, only one of whom is loyal to him. He decides to divide his property into three parts but ends up disinheriting the best of them, his daughter Cordelia and lives to be treated cruelly by his other two daughters. Rage, betrayal and madness follow.

Cymbeline is one of Shakespeare's more convoluted plots complete with stolen children, betrayals, a poison potion, another potion that simulates death, false assumptions and people assuming fake identities. Although classified as a tragedy it is also considered a comedy and has a happier outcome than King Lear's.

Performances for King Lear are scheduled for July 28, 30, August 1, 3 and 5 at 8:15 p.m with Bard Talk at 7:45 p.m. Free.

Performances of Cymbeline are scheduled for July 29, Aug 2, 4 and 6 at 8:15 p.m. with Bard Talk at 7:15 p.m. Free.

Tickets for covered seating are free but covered seating by the stage requires a reservation in advance. You can get your tickets online here beginning at 10 a.m., one day prior to the performance date until noon on the day of performance. You must be 16 or older to order tickets. Each person is allowed a maximum of 4 tickets. The box office, located on the northeast corner of the theater, will be open one hour before the performance starts. No late seating for the covered seats.

KEEP THE HOUSTON PRESS FREE... Since we started the Houston Press, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Houston, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.

Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

The Houston Press is a nationally award-winning, 34-year-old publication ruled by endless curiosity, a certain amount of irreverence, the desire to get to the truth and to point out the absurd as well as the glorious.

Contact: Houston Press

After a Three-Year Layoff, Houston Shakespeare Festival Returns to Miller Outdoor

Trending Arts & Culture

[%title%]

After a Three-Year Layoff, Houston Shakespeare Festival Returns to Miller Outdoor

Trending Arts & Culture

[%title%]

Latest Stories