Houston Shakespeare Festival


The Houston Shakespeare Festival is a regional repertory theatre in Houston, Texas, United States. Each summer, the Houston Shakespeare Festival produces a season of two Shakespeare plays in repertory. Since its inception in 1975, HSF has entertained over a million theatergoers with free performances in Hermann Park's Miller Outdoor Theatre. The Houston Shakespeare Festival has since become one of the major events on Houston's summer entertainment calendar. HSF is a recognized Actors' Equity Association theatre.
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History

In the summer of 1975, Dr. Sidney Berger, the then Director of the University of Houston's School of Theatre and Dance, met with the college's administrators and the Miller Outdoor Theatre Advisory Council to enlist support for a two-production season of Shakespeare's works to be played in repertory on Miller Theatre's bill.
The first year was met with acclaim, with audience size exceeding projections and local citizens writing letter of support to the University of Houston. As years have passed, HSF's budget has increased. The University of Houston provides access to its scenery workshops, office rooms, a rehearsal area and more. In 1989, The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts gifted an endowment for HSF to enter a seasonal agreement with Actors' Equity Association.
Berger, who had started work in Houston in 1969, retired in 2007. The last play he directed at the Festival was Much Ado About Nothing, in 2010.

Production history

YearShowDirectorNotable Actors
1975The Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRichard McWilliams
1975A Midsummer Night's DreamCecil PickettRichard McWilliams, Cindy Pickett
1976The TempestCecil PickettBrett Cullen, Christopher Rich
1976Romeo and JulietSidney BergerBrett Cullen
1977The Comedy of ErrorsCecil PickettBrett Cullen
1977HamletSidney BergerBrett Cullen
1978The Merry Wives of WindsorCecil PickettJames Harper, Brett Cullen
1978MacbethSidney BergerJames Harper, Brett Cullen
1979Much Ado About NothingSidney BergerBrett Cullen
1979Twelfth NightCecil PickettBrett Cullen
1980King LearSidney BergerDan O'Herlihy, Blue Deckert
1980As You Like ItCecil PickettBlue Deckert
1981A Midsummer Night's DreamSidney BergerMark Voland, Jeff Bennett
1981The Merchant of VeniceCecil PickettMark Voland
1982The TempestCecil PickettJames Robert Daniels
1982Love's Labor's LostSidney BergerJames Robert Daniels
1983The Winter's TaleCharles KrohnJeff Bennett
1983The Comedy of ErrorsSydney BergerJeff Bennett
1984HamletSidney BergerKenneth Marshall, Dante Di Loreto, Jeff Bennett
1984The Two Gentlemen of VeronaCharles KrohnDante Di Loreto, Jeff Bennett
1985Richard IIISidney BergerFrank Barrie, Rutherford Cravens
1985Measure For MeasureCharles KrohnRutherford Cravens
1986OthelloSidney BergerRichard Lawson, Rutherford Cravens, Jeff Bennett
1986All's Well That Ends WellCharles KrohnJeff Bennett
1987Julius CaesarKate PogueRutherford Cravens
1987The Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1988Richard IIKate PogueRutherford Cravens, James Gale
1988Twelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford Cravens, James Gale, Suzanne Savoy
1989CoriolanusSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1989As You Like ItGreg LeamingRutherford Cravens
1990Troilus and CressidaRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
1990The TempestSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1991The Merchant of VeniceSidney BergerTom Klunis, Rutherford Cravens
1991The Merry Wives of WindsorRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
1992Romeo and JulietCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
1992Much Ado About NothingSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1993Henry VSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1993A Midsummer Night's DreamCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
1994HamletSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1994Love's Labor LostCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
1995PericlesCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
1995As You Like ItSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1996The Winter's TaleBeth SandfordRutherford Cravens
1996MacbethSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1997The TempestCarolyn Houston BooneJim Parsons, William Hardy, Howard French, Rutherford Cravens
1997The Comedy of ErrorsSidney BergerWilliam Hardy, Rutherford Cravens, James Belcher
1998The Two Gentlemen of VeronaRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
1998King LearSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1999Twelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
1999The Taming of the ShrewBeth SandfordRutherford Cravens
2000The Merry Wives of WindsorRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
2000OthelloSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2001Romeo and JulietSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2001King JohnRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
2002A Midsummer Night's DreamSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2002Measure For MeasureRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens
2003The Winter's TaleSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2003Much Ado About NothingRod BundyRutherford Cravens, Jason Douglas
2004MacbethRob BundyRutherford Cravens, Jason Douglas
2004The Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2005HamletCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
2005As You Like ItSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2006Titus AndronicusCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
2006The TempestSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2007Romeo and JulietCarolyn Houston BooneJessica Boone, Rutherford Cravens
2007Love's Labor's LostSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2008Julius CaesarSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2008CymbelineCarolyn Houston BooneJessica Boone, Rutherford Cravens
2009Twelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford Cravens
2009PericlesCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
2010Much Ado About NothingSidney BergerRutherford Cravens, Bob Boudreaux
2010A Midsummer Night's DreamCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens
2011OthelloLeah C. GardinerSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens
2011The Taming of the ShrewJack YoungSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens
2012HamletSteve PickeringCindy Pickett, Mark Metcalf, Rutherford Cravens
2012The Comedy of ErrorsPaul StegerCindy Pickett, Mark Metcalf, Rutherford Cravens
2013Antony and CleopatraLeah C. GardinerSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens
2013As You Like ItMarc MastersonSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens
2014Henry IV, Part IJack YoungDavid Rainey, David Huynh
2014Two Gentlemen of VeronaBrendon FoxKiara Feliciano, Amelia Fischer
2015Merchant of VeniceTiger ReelJack Young, Mirron Willis
2015MacbethJack YoungAdam Noble, Tracie Thomason
2016Henry VLenny BanovezBrendon Marshall-Rashid, Susie Parr
2016Much Ado About NothingJack YoungDemetria Thomas, Patrick Poole
2017Twelfth NightJack YoungDylan Paul, Tracie Thomason, Meg Rodgers, Mike Lee, Patrick Poole
2017Richard IIILenny BanovezJack Young, Madison Hart, Patrick Poole, Carlton Warnberg, Dylan Paul
2018HamletJack YoungShannon Hill, Demetria Thomas, Crash Buist, Shannon Uphold
2018Comedy of ErrorsJack YoungAndrew Garrett, Crash Buist
2019Julius CaesarJack YoungDean Coutris, Crash Buist, Andrew Garret, David Huynh
2019As You Like ItStephanie ShineLaura Frye Banovez, David Huynh
2020Canceled
2020Canceled
2021Canceled
2021Canceled
2022CymbelineJack Young
2022King LearStephanie ShineJack Young
2023Much Ado About NothingAmelia FischerAllison Pistorius,
2023MacbethDemetria ThomasAlan Brincks, Laura Frye
2024A Midsummer Night's DreamAmelia FischerAlan Brincks, Laura Frye, Michael Sifuentes, Wesley Whitson
2024Romeo & JulietJack YoungSophia Marcelle, Kyle Clark
2025Henry VJack Young,
2025As You Like It,