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The log lodge at Duck Creek Village Inn lit up at dusk among spruce and aspen

Cedar City guide

Utah Shakespeare Festival Visitor Guide

See the plays in Cedar City, then drive 47 minutes up the canyon to sleep where July afternoons average in the seventies.

The short answer

In het kort

De korte versie

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a professional repertory theatre festival on the Southern Utah University campus in Cedar City, running since 1962 and a Tony winner for outstanding regional theatre in 2000. The 2027 season runs 21 June to 2 October 2027 across three theatres at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts, 195 W Center St. The open-air Engelstad plays evenings only and closes 4 September; the two indoor theatres carry on into October. Tickets are sold only by the Festival, at bard.org or 800-PLAYTIX. Duck Creek Village is 30.2 miles and about 47 minutes up Highway 14 from the theatres.

Goed om te weten

  • The 2027 lineup is published: 9 productions, starting 21 June.
  • The outdoor theatre and the free Greenshow both stop in early September. Come before 4 September if open-air Shakespeare is the point.
  • There are no Sunday performances, which makes Sunday the natural day for Cedar Breaks or Brian Head.
  • There is no general rush ticket. The day-of discount is half price for residents of seven southern Utah counties.
  • Every evening show lets out after dark, so the drive back up the canyon is a night drive.
2027 season
21 June to 2 October 2027
Outdoor theatre
Evenings only, last show 4 September
Curtain times
2pm matinees, 8pm evenings, no Sunday shows
Tickets
bard.org or 800-PLAYTIX. No third-party sellers
Parking
Free, in designated university lots
From the inn
30.2 miles, about 47 minutes

We are an inn, not the box office. For seats, go to bard.org/tickets or call 800-PLAYTIX (800-752-9849).

The 2027 season

The Festival plays in repertory: several productions rotate through each theatre, so in two or three days you can see three or four different plays. The 2027 lineup was already announced and on sale by mid-September 2026, while that season was still running, so look at bard.org in early autumn for the following summer.

Utah Shakespeare Festival 2027 productions, theatres and dates
Production Theatre Runs
The Crucible Engelstad (outdoor) 21 June to 2 September
Henry V Engelstad (outdoor) 22 June to 3 September
The Merry Wives of Windsor Engelstad (outdoor) 23 June to 4 September
The Drowsy Chaperone Randall L. Jones 24 June to 4 September
Arsenic and Old Lace Randall L. Jones 25 June to 1 October
William Shakespeare's Land of the Dead Randall L. Jones 26 June to 2 October
The Two Noble Kinsmen Anes Studio 21 July to 2 October
Into the Breeches! Anes Studio 22 July to 1 October
All the Devils Are Here Eccles Music Center, Okerlund Hall 28 July to 7 August

First dates are first previews. All the Devils Are Here is a short run in the university's music building rather than one of the three Festival theatres. Source: bard.org, read 9 November 2026.

How a season is shaped, every year

  • Late June to early October. 2026 ran 18 June to 3 October; 2027 runs 21 June to 2 October.
  • Summer is everything at once. From July to the start of September all three theatres and the Greenshow are running. This is the window to aim for.
  • Autumn is indoor only. The open-air Engelstad and the Greenshow stop in the first week of September (5 September in 2026, 4 September in 2027). The indoor productions run on for another month.
  • No Sundays. The 2027 calendar has no performances on any Sunday.
  • Accessible performances cluster in mid to late August. In 2026, the open-captioned, audio-described and ASL-interpreted performances all fell between 17 and 27 August.

The three theatres

All three are in the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts on the Southern Utah University campus, 195 W Center St, within a short walk of each other. The ticket office is on the far east side of the complex, next to the Anes Studio and the clock tower.

  • Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre

    Open-air About 921 seats

    The outdoor house, built along Elizabethan lines with no roof over the audience. Evening performances only, and it closes for the year in early September.

  • Randall L. Jones Theatre

    Indoor About 770 seats

    The main indoor stage. Matinees and evenings, and it runs to the end of the season in October.

  • Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre

    Indoor studio Up to 200 seats

    The small flexible room. Its shows open about a month after the others and run to October.

Tickets: how they actually work

The Festival sells its own tickets and says plainly that it does not use third-party platforms. Buy online at bard.org/tickets, call 800-752-9849 or 435-586-7878, or go to the window. Between seasons (late October 2026 to June 2027) the phones and window are staffed Monday to Friday, noon to 5pm Mountain Time.

What seats cost

Prices are published only as seating-chart images, which is why the figures quoted around the web disagree. For the 2026 season the charts read:

  • Engelstad: $30 to $94
  • Randall L. Jones: $45 to $90, plus $6 for musicals
  • Anes Studio: $65 to $80

2027 charts are on bard.org. Prices are set per season, so treat these as a guide only.

Discounts, and the rush ticket that does not exist

There is no general rush or standby ticket. The only day-of deal is for locals. The discounts listed on the Festival's ticket page when we checked:

Southern Utah residents
Half off day-of tickets for residents of Iron, Beaver, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Piute and Lincoln counties, with proof of residency. Ticket office only, no premier seats.
Children and students
$10 off any ticket for ages 6 to 18 and students with ID. Online or at the ticket office.
Seniors, AAA and military
$4 off per ticket. Seniors are 62 and over.
Several shows
$4 off each ticket when you buy five or six shows, $5 off for seven or eight. Phone or ticket office only.
Groups
$4 off per ticket for 12 to 19 people, $10 off for 20 or more.

Before you click buy

  • Tickets are non-refundable except for medical or similar emergencies.
  • Exchanges need at least 24 hours' notice, by phone.
  • Children under six are not admitted to plays.
  • Wheelchair seating is sold by phone through 800-PLAYTIX, not online.

On the night

Parking

Free, in designated university lots near all three theatres. Availability shifts with construction and gets tighter once the fall semester starts in late August, so give yourself extra time. The Festival's directions page has the map.

The Greenshow

A free half-hour of music, dancing and storytelling on the lawn before the evening plays, 7:10pm Monday to Saturday from 21 June to 4 September in 2027. No ticket needed, children of any age welcome. Bring a blanket or a camp chair, keep chairs to the back and sides, and leave the benches where they are.

Food

Concessions sell snacks, drinks and the Festival's tarts from the courtyard sweet shop and the theatre lobbies. Lidded drinks bought there are allowed in all three theatres; food is allowed in the outdoor Engelstad only. A picnic on the green before the Greenshow is the easy dinner.

What to wear

There is no dress code. Bring a jacket for the outdoor theatre and a layer for the indoor ones too: the Festival's own first-timer page warns they can run cooler than some people like.

If it rains on the Engelstad

The show carries on, after a short hold if needed. Umbrellas are not allowed, so bring a poncho. Cancelled before intermission means a credit for everyone with a ticket. Cancelled after intermission means no credit, though you can ask to exchange into another performance.

Accessibility

Assistive listening devices are at Guest Services in every theatre. The closest accessible drop-off for the Randall L. Jones is on Shakespeare Lane; for the Engelstad and the Anes it is Center Street at University Boulevard. Open-captioned, audio-described and ASL-interpreted performances are scheduled each season, and the Festival asks for accommodation requests at least seven working days ahead, by phone or at guestservices@bard.org. Current accessible performance dates

Where to stay: in town, or up the mountain

Staying in Cedar City gets you the shortest walk to your car. Staying in Duck Creek Village gets you 47 minutes of canyon road each way and, in exchange, afternoons that average 12 to 15 degrees cooler and a village that is dark and quiet by the time you get back. Choose a room at the inn or one of our cabins if you are bringing family.

Average daily high and low, °F, during the season
Month Cedar City Duck Creek Village
June 85° / 49° 73° / 47°
July 91° / 57° 77° / 53°
August 89° / 56° 74° / 51°
September 81° / 46° 67° / 44°

Cedar City: NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at Cedar City Regional Airport. Duck Creek Village: Open-Meteo historical model for the inn's location, 2016 to 2025. There is no long-running weather station in the village, so our figures are modelled rather than measured.

The drive back after an evening show

Highway 14 climbs 4,059 feet from Cedar City to a summit of 9,905 feet at mile 17.1, with a two-mile stretch averaging 6.9% and 12.1 miles above 9,000 feet. It is a good paved road with no streetlights and few shoulders. Deer are common along the meadow edges after dark. Drive under the limit, use your high beams when the road is clear, and expect the trip to take a little longer than it did in daylight.

Sunset in Cedar City across the 2027 season:

  • Opening week, late June 8:58pm
  • Mid July 8:55pm
  • Mid August 8:27pm
  • Outdoor closing, early September 7:59pm
  • Final week, early October 7:16pm

Every 8pm curtain comes down after sunset, so plan the drive home as a night drive. The road is covered mile by mile in our Highway 14 guide.

Two days: two plays and the high country

A plan that works from Duck Creek any week from July to the start of September, when all three theatres and the Greenshow are running. Avoid making day one a Sunday.

  1. Day one, early afternoon: down the canyon

    Leave the village by about 12:45 for a 2pm matinee. It is 47 minutes to the theatres, and parking can take longer to find once the university's fall semester starts.

    Matinees play in the two indoor theatres, Monday to Saturday.

  2. 2pm: matinee at the Randall or the Anes

    Pick one of the indoor productions for the afternoon so the evening is free for the outdoor house. Bring a layer even in July; the Festival itself warns the indoor theatres can run cool.

  3. Between shows: the art museum, then the green

    The Southern Utah Museum of Art is in the same complex, free, and open until 8pm Monday to Saturday from June to September. After that, get a spot on the lawn for the Greenshow.

    Greenshow: 7:10pm, Monday to Saturday, 21 June to 4 September.

    More to do in Cedar City
  4. 8pm: Shakespeare under the sky at the Engelstad

    The open-air theatre is the one people remember. Bring the jacket you brought for the matinee, and a poncho if storms are forecast, because umbrellas are not allowed.

  5. After the show: the drive home in the dark

    About 47 minutes up Highway 14, climbing 4,059 feet. Drive it below the limit and watch the verges for deer.

  6. Day two: up high while it is still cool

    Cedar Breaks rim is about 25 minutes from the inn and sits above 10,000 feet. Brian Head is about 41 minutes, with scenic lift rides in summer. Be back by mid-afternoon if you are heading down for another evening show, or keep the day and do the theatre again tomorrow.

    Cedar Breaks guide

Utah Shakespeare Festival questions

What guests ask us before they drive down for a show.

When is the Utah Shakespeare Festival 2027?

The 2027 season runs 21 June to 2 October 2027. The three outdoor productions in the Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre (The Crucible, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor) close between 2 and 4 September. The Randall L. Jones Theatre runs to 2 October, and the Anes Studio productions open in late July and also run to the start of October. The free Greenshow runs 21 June to 4 September.

How do I buy Utah Shakespeare Festival tickets, and are there rush tickets?

Buy from the Festival only: online at bard.org, by phone on 800-752-9849 (800-PLAYTIX) or 435-586-7878, or at the ticket office on the east side of the Beverley Center. The Festival says it does not use third-party ticket sellers. There is no general rush ticket. The day-of discount is half price for residents of Iron, Beaver, Washington, Kane, Garfield, Piute and Lincoln counties, at the ticket office with proof of residency. Other published discounts include $10 off for ages 6 to 18 and students, and $4 off for seniors 62 and over, AAA members and the military.

How much are Utah Shakespeare Festival tickets?

The Festival publishes prices as seating-chart images rather than text. For the 2026 season those charts ran from $30 to $94 in the Engelstad, $45 to $90 in the Randall L. Jones with $6 more for musicals, and $65 to $80 in the Anes Studio. Check the current charts on bard.org before you budget, since prices are set each season.

Where do you park for the Utah Shakespeare Festival?

Parking is free in designated Southern Utah University lots near all three theatres. The Festival warns that availability changes with construction and once the fall semester starts, so leave extra time in late August and September. For accessible drop-off, use Shakespeare Lane for the Randall L. Jones Theatre and Center Street at University Boulevard for the Engelstad and the Anes.

What should I wear to the Utah Shakespeare Festival?

There is no dress code, and most people dress casually. Bring layers: a sweater or light jacket for the open-air Engelstad after dark, and also for the indoor theatres, which the Festival says can feel cool. Cedar City averages 91°F in the afternoon in July but only 57°F by dawn, and every evening show ends after sunset.

What happens if it rains at the outdoor theatre?

The play goes on, sometimes after a short delay, and the company will try to finish in the rain. Umbrellas are not allowed; ponchos are. If a performance is cancelled before intermission, everyone holding a ticket for it gets a credit. If it is cancelled after intermission there is no credit, though you may be able to exchange into another performance if seats are available.

Is the Greenshow free, and what is it?

Yes. It is a free half-hour outdoor show of music, dancing and storytelling on the green, at 7:10pm Monday to Saturday, 21 June to 4 September in 2027. You do not need a play ticket. Bring a blanket, a camp chair or a picnic, and set chairs along the back and sides of the lawn rather than moving the benches.

Can I bring children to the Utah Shakespeare Festival?

Children under six, including babies, are not admitted to the plays. Children of any age are welcome at the Greenshow. The Festival runs child care during plays for children up to age ten at $15 per child per play, booked through the ticket office at least 24 hours ahead.

What time do the plays start, and how long are they?

Matinees start at 2pm and evening performances at 8pm. The outdoor Engelstad has evening shows only. The Festival had not posted running times for the 2027 productions when we checked, so ask the ticket office if you need to plan around an exact finish. Latecomers are seated at a suitable break, and your assigned seat is held from intermission.

Where should I stay for the Utah Shakespeare Festival?

Cedar City itself is the shortest commute. If you would rather sleep somewhere cooler and quieter, Duck Creek Village is 30.2 miles and about 47 minutes up Highway 14 at about 8,400 feet. In July, afternoons average around 77°F up here against 91°F in town, and Cedar Breaks and Brian Head are both closer to the village than to Cedar City. The trade is a canyon drive back after dark.

9 November 2026

Why trust this page

Dates, curtain times, prices, discounts and policies on this page come from the Utah Shakespeare Festival's own site, read on 9 November 2026, and nothing here is copied from it. Ticket prices are from the Festival's 2026 seating charts, which it publishes only as images. Temperatures are NOAA climate normals for Cedar City and a historical weather model for the village. The drive was traced along the real roads from the inn, the climb sampled against USGS elevation data, and the sunset times calculated for Cedar City. Where the Festival had not yet published something, such as 2027 running times, we say so.

After the curtain, come up the canyon

Duck Creek Village sits about 2,600 feet above Cedar City. Summer afternoons are cooler and the nights are quiet.

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