The Houston Shakespeare Festival (HSF) 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.
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."Remembering Longtime Theatre Director Sidney Berger". Targeted News Service. 16 Feb. 2013 – via Gale OneFile.
Leadership
Production history
Year Show Director Notable Actors1975The Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRichard McWilliamsA Midsummer Night's Dream Cecil PickettRichard McWilliams, Cindy Pickett1976The Tempest Cecil PickettBrett Cullen, Christopher RichRomeo and JulietSidney BergerBrett Cullen1977The Comedy of ErrorsCecil PickettBrett CullenHamletSidney BergerBrett Cullen1978The Merry Wives of WindsorCecil PickettJames Harper, Brett CullenMacbethSidney BergerJames Harper, Brett Cullen1979Much Ado About NothingSidney BergerBrett CullenTwelfth NightCecil PickettBrett Cullen1980King LearSidney BergerDan O'Herlihy, Blue DeckertAs You Like ItCecil PickettBlue Deckert1981A Midsummer Night's DreamSidney BergerMark Voland, Jeff BennettThe Merchant of VeniceCecil PickettMark Voland1982The TempestCecil PickettJames Robert DanielsLove's Labor's LostSidney BergerJames Robert Daniels1983The Winter's TaleCharles KrohnJeff BennettThe Comedy of ErrorsSydney BergerJeff Bennett1984HamletSidney BergerKenneth Marshall, Dante Di Loreto, Jeff BennettThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaCharles KrohnDante Di Loreto, Jeff Bennett1985Richard IIISidney BergerFrank Barrie, Rutherford CravensMeasure For MeasureCharles KrohnRutherford Cravens1986OthelloSidney BergerRichard Lawson, Rutherford Cravens, Jeff BennettAll's Well That Ends WellCharles KrohnJeff Bennett1987Julius CaesarKate PogueRutherford CravensThe Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1988Richard IIKate PogueRutherford Cravens, James GaleTwelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford Cravens, James Gale, Suzanne Savoy1989CoriolanusSidney BergerRutherford CravensAs You Like ItGreg LeamingRutherford Cravens1990Troilus and CressidaRutherford CravensRutherford CravensThe TempestSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1991The Merchant of VeniceSidney BergerTom Klunis, Rutherford CravensThe Merry Wives of WindsorRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens1992Romeo and JulietCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford CravensMuch Ado About NothingSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1993Henry VSidney BergerRutherford CravensA Midsummer Night's DreamCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens1994HamletSidney BergerRutherford CravensLove's Labor LostCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens1995PericlesCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford CravensAs You Like ItSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1996The Winter's TaleBeth SandfordRutherford CravensMacbethSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1997The TempestCarolyn Houston BooneJim Parsons, William Hardy, Howard French, Rutherford CravensThe Comedy of ErrorsSidney BergerWilliam Hardy, Rutherford Cravens, James Belcher1998The Two Gentlemen of VeronaRutherford CravensRutherford CravensKing LearSidney BergerRutherford Cravens1999Twelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford CravensThe Taming of the ShrewBeth SandfordRutherford Cravens2000The Merry Wives of WindsorRutherford CravensRutherford CravensOthelloSidney BergerRutherford Cravens2001Romeo and JulietSidney BergerRutherford CravensKing JohnRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens2002A Midsummer Night's DreamSidney BergerRutherford CravensMeasure For MeasureRutherford CravensRutherford Cravens2003The Winter's TaleSidney BergerRutherford CravensMuch Ado About NothingRod BundyRutherford Cravens, Jason Douglas2004MacbethRob BundyRutherford Cravens, Jason DouglasThe Taming of the ShrewSidney BergerRutherford Cravens2005HamletCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford CravensAs You Like ItSidney BergerRutherford Cravens2006Titus AndronicusCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford CravensThe TempestSidney BergerRutherford Cravens2007Romeo and JulietCarolyn Houston BooneJessica Boone, Rutherford CravensLove's Labor's LostSidney BergerRutherford Cravens2008Julius CaesarSidney BergerRutherford CravensCymbelineCarolyn Houston BooneJessica Boone, Rutherford Cravens2009Twelfth NightSidney BergerRutherford CravensPericlesCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens2010Much Ado About NothingSidney BergerRutherford Cravens, Bob BoudreauxA Midsummer Night's DreamCarolyn Houston BooneRutherford Cravens2011OthelloLeah C. GardinerSeth Gilliam, Rutherford CravensThe Taming of the ShrewJack YoungSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens2012HamletSteve PickeringCindy Pickett, Mark Metcalf, Rutherford CravensThe Comedy of ErrorsPaul StegerCindy Pickett, Mark Metcalf, Rutherford Cravens2013Antony and CleopatraLeah C. GardinerSeth Gilliam, Rutherford CravensAs You Like ItMarc MastersonSeth Gilliam, Rutherford Cravens2014Henry IV, Part IJack YoungDavid Rainey, David HuynhTwo Gentlemen of VeronaBrendon FoxKiara Feliciano, Amelia Fischer2015Merchant of VeniceTiger ReelJack Young, Mirron WillisMacbethJack YoungAdam Noble, Tracie Thomason2016Henry VLenny BanovezBrendon Marshall-Rashid, Susie ParrMuch Ado About NothingJack YoungDemetria Thomas, Patrick Poole2017Twelfth NightJack YoungDylan Paul, Tracie Thomason, Meg Rodgers, Mike Lee, Patrick PooleRichard IIILenny BanovezJack Young, Madison Hart, Patrick Poole, Carlton Warnberg, Dylan Paul2018HamletJack YoungShannon Hill, Demetria Thomas, Crash Buist, Shannon UpholdComedy of ErrorsJack YoungAndrew Garrett, Crash Buist2019Julius CaesarJack YoungDean Coutris, Crash Buist, Andrew Garret, David HuynhAs You Like ItStephanie ShineLaura Frye Banovez, David Huynh2020CanceledCanceled2021CanceledCanceled2022Cymbeline Jack YoungKing LearStephanie ShineJack Young2023Much Ado About NothingAmelia FischerAllison Pistorius, MacbethDemetria ThomasAlan Brincks, Laura Frye2024A Midsummer Night's DreamAmelia FischerAlan Brincks, Laura Frye, Michael Sifuentes, Wesley WhitsonRomeo & JulietJack YoungSophia Marcelle, Kyle Clark2025Henry VJack YoungMichael Thatcher, Brandon CarterAs You Like ItSophia WattMichael Thatcher, Brandon Carter
References
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