
Shakespeare Hits The Road With Annual School Tour
Since 1993, the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s education touring program, Shakespeare in the Schools, has brought professional theatre performances to students and communities across Utah and the Intermountain West. The program’s mission is to provide access to theatre and inspire students by meeting them where they are. This year, the tour will present Henry IV, Part I, a historical drama infused with adventure and humor, particularly through the beloved character Falstaff.
A company of nine professional theatre artists and educators will bring the production to K-12 students across Utah, as well as select locations in Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Directed by Marcella Kearns, the tour runs from January 29 to April 19, 2025.
Kearns, the tour’s education director, is passionate about Shakespeare’s histories, a genre that is often overlooked in favor of his tragedies and comedies. She encourages audiences to reconsider their perceptions of history plays.
“When people think of Shakespeare’s history plays, they think, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a history lesson,’” Kearns said in a press release. “No! It’s an epic adventure. We should rename the history genre as the ‘epic genre.’ Within the histories, you have comedy, tragedy, and adventure.”
Henry IV, Part I is one of Shakespeare’s most popular history plays, though it often ranks lower in recognition compared to his more famous tragedies and comedies. However, it is a fitting choice for this year’s tour, as its coming-of-age themes resonate with middle and high school students navigating their own journeys to adulthood.
“It’s also an origin story, which is so popular now,” Kearns said. “I think that will speak so beautifully to the young people we are visiting.”
The production is a 75-minute adaptation that follows King Henry IV and his son, Prince Hal, who is faced with the challenge of growing up and preparing to assume the throne. The play culminates in the battle between Prince Hal and his rival, Hotspur.
Thanks to funding from the State of Utah, the tour is offered free to all Utah public and public charter schools. At-cost and discounted rates are available for private schools, public venues, and out-of-state locations. Schools can choose between the full 75-minute performance for middle and high school students or a 45-minute interactive assembly designed for elementary audiences. Post-performance talkbacks and educational workshops are also included.
While the tour primarily brings Shakespeare to communities outside the festival’s home base, Cedar City will host a special public performance. The free event is scheduled for Friday, February 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Southern Utah University Auditorium Theatre, offering local audiences a chance to experience this exciting production.
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