Shakespeare Festival Takes 

Center Stage in Kilgore

For more than 40 years, theater lovers from across Texas have made their way to Kilgore each summer for one of the state’s most respected performing arts traditions, the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

Returning for its 41st season June 25 through July 26, the festival once again transforms the campus of Kilgore College into a destination for classic theater, Broadway musicals, family productions, and timeless storytelling. What began as a regional theater program has grown into East Texas’ only professional theater festival, drawing performers and audiences from across the country.

One of the things that makes the Texas Shakespeare Festival unique is its rotating repertory format. Visitors can often see multiple productions over the course of a weekend, making it easy to turn a theater trip into a summer getaway filled with dining, shopping, and exploring East Texas.

This season’s lineup offers a little something for everyone.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream                       

One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream brings audiences into a world where fairies meddle in the lives of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors. Filled with mistaken identities, magic, and plenty of humor, the production promises the kind of lighthearted summer theater experience audiences have enjoyed for generations.

Emma

Jane Austen’s classic story comes to life in this adaptation of Emma, centered around the clever and confident Emma Woodhouse, whose matchmaking attempts create complications for nearly everyone around her, including herself. Filled with Regency-era charm, wit, and romance, the production offers a fresh take on one of literature’s most enduring heroines.

Hamlet                           

For audiences who enjoy Shakespeare’s darker side, Hamlet returns with its story of revenge, grief, betrayal, and moral conflict. Considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, the play follows Prince Hamlet as he struggles with the death of his father and the unraveling world around him. Powerful speeches and unforgettable characters continue to make Hamlet one of the most performed plays in the world.

1776

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Tony Award-winning musical 1776 takes audiences back to the political debates and personalities behind the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Blending humor, music, and history, the production follows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and other founding fathers as they attempt to unite the colonies and shape a new nation.

The Reluctant Dragon

Families will find plenty to enjoy in The Reluctant Dragon, a charming production based on the classic story by Kenneth Grahame. Unlike the fearsome dragons of legend, this dragon prefers poetry and peaceful living over battles and destruction. The family-friendly production offers humor, heart, and a reminder that things are not always what they seem.

Dear Jack, Dear Louise           

Based on the real-life courtship of playwright Ken Ludwig’s parents during World War II, Dear Jack, Dear Louise tells the story of two strangers who fall in love through letters written across thousands of miles. Presented as a staged reading, the production combines romance, humor, and history in a heartfelt story about connection during uncertain times.

Beyond the performances themselves, part of the experience is simply spending time in Kilgore and the surrounding East Texas communities. Visitors can explore downtown shops, local restaurants, museums, and nearby attractions before settling into an evening performance.

Tickets and performance schedules are available at texasshakespeare.com or by calling (903) 983-8601.