Idaho Shakespeare Festival facts for kids

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a special repertory theatre located in Boise, Idaho, United States. It's a place where actors perform different plays during the summer, usually from June to September. This festival even shares its talented actors with other big theater groups like the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Ohio and the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.

Discover the Idaho Shakespeare Festival

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is a well-known repertory theatre in Boise, Idaho. Each year, the festival puts on five different plays. These plays often include famous works by William Shakespeare, as well as other exciting shows, both old and new.

More than 105,000 people visit the festival every year. They offer amazing performances, art education, and programs for many different groups in Idaho. The festival has a cool outdoor theater that can seat 770 people. It works closely with the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

A typical season at the outdoor theater features five or six main plays. These run from June through September. In 2008, over 53,000 people came to see these shows! The festival also hosts performances by its drama camps and apprentice program.

Before the evening plays, there's a free outdoor "Green Show." This happens from June through October. It's like a mini-play, often with Elizabethan music and themes. The Green Show usually gives you a hint about the main play that night.

The festival also brings theater programs to schools. They visit schools in 39 of Idaho's 44 counties! Their school tours, called Idaho Theater for Youth and Shakespearience, reach over 52,000 students and teachers each year. This includes kids in small, faraway towns. The drama school offers classes for all ages. They also have special training for older students who want to learn more about theater. Summer camps are available for kids aged 3 to 18. All these programs help the festival share the magic of theater with many different people.

Where is the Festival Located?

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival Amphitheater and Habitat Reserve is in a beautiful spot. It's a natural outdoor theater along the Boise River. It's also right next to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation offices. The performances happen in a modern theater with 770 seats. This theater was built to make sure you can hear the actors' voices perfectly. It's surrounded by a special natural area. This area is home to many different plants and animals. The festival works with the Idaho Foundation for Parks and Lands and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

How the Festival Works

The festival is run by a group of 44 volunteers called the board of trustees. It also has 12 full-time staff members. Over 180 artists, technicians, and service people work there. Plus, hundreds of community volunteers help out every year.

What Plays Do They Perform?

The Idaho Shakespeare Festival performs a mix of plays. They often include famous works by William Shakespeare. They also put on other plays, both classic and new. For example, the 2020 season was planned to include plays like Much Ado About Nothing and Henry V. However, sometimes seasons have to be cancelled for different reasons, like in 2020.

See also

• William Shakespeare
• Boise, Idaho
• Shakespeare festivals