The Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival will present ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ at the University of Saint Joseph this July, featuring outdoor theater, food, and events that are fun for the whole family.

Design by Cipher Creative Group; photo by Cindy Schafer; pie by Big Y

Submitted

Save the date, contact your friends, and start planning your picnic dinner because the Capital Classics Theatre Company will be staging “The Merry Wives of Windsor” for the 28th Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival – outdoors – on the beautiful grounds of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT, this July 11-28, 2019.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” is a riotous romp that stars one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comic characters. Falstaff, an impoverished knight in search of wealth, sets his sights on two married wealthy women. Little does he know, these “merry wives” have a few tricks up their sleeves.

From left: Laura Sheehan (Mistress Page), Tonille Watki (Mistress Ford) and Nick Roesler (Falstaff). Courtesy photo

The production will be directed by Geoffrey Sheehan, Capital Classics artistic associate and theater professor at Housatonic Community College. The artistic team for “The Merry Wives of Windsor” also includes longtime collaborators David Regan (set design), Vivianna Lamb (costumes), Robyn Joyce (lighting design), Christine Simoes (choreography), and Jeff McQuillan (composer/musician).

The cast features Nick Roesler as Falstaff and Laura Sheehan (Mistress Page) and Tonille Watkis (Mistress Ford) as the “merry wives.” The cast also includes Debra Walsh (Mistress Quickly), Mark Dean (Ford), Rick Malone (Page), Austin Doughty (Shallow), Ryan Howland (Sir Hugh Evans), Kiera Sheehan (Hostess), Mikayla Brown (Robin), Evan Ayer (Pistol/Simple), Christopher Rowe (Fenton/Robert), Billy O’Brien (Slender/John), Megan Gwyn (Anne Page/Rugby), and Ariana Ortmann (Dr. Caius/NYM).

As Connecticut’s oldest continuously running outdoor Shakespeare festival, Capital Classics has a reputation for making Shakespeare accessible and affordable. Over its three-weekend run, the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival attracts more than 2,000 fans, who attend each summer with family, friends, and picnic baskets on the grounds of the University of Saint Joseph to enjoy outdoor Shakespeare under the stars.

“The Merry Wives of Windsor” and the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival are produced by the Capital Classics Theatre Company, in partnership with the University of Saint Joseph and the Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities. The Festival is supported by passionate Shakespeare fans, local businesses, and generous foundations, including the Connecticut Office of the Arts, Department of Economic and Community Development, Edward C. & Ann T. Roberts Foundation, Ensworth Charitable Foundation, Greater Hartford Arts Council, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, John & Kelly Hartman Foundation.

The Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival is held outdoors (indoors in case of rain) at the University of Saint Joseph, 1678 Asylum Ave. in West Hartford, CTt. Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for students/seniors, and $12 for discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more and “Let’s GO Arts!” members, plus a $2 USJ ticket fee per ticket.

Tickets are available online at HartfordShakespeare.org, at the door or by calling the box office at 860-231-5555.

Learn more about Capital Classics and the Greater Hartford Shakespeare Festival at HartfordShakespeare.org.

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Past Festival. Photo by Nicole Battistone