The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival will celebrate its 25th year this year.

This year, the festival Professional Company stages Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy, King Lear.

It’s the Festival’s first ever production of King Lear, with performances happening August 21 through 31.

Tickets start at just $10, and special events are scheduled to accompany Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances including Q&As, pre-show seminars and more.

• OPENING NIGHT / 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: Thursday, August 21st, 6:00pm, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, $75 (includes food, drink, and a ticket to the opening night performance of King Lear)
  • Celebrate the opening night of King Lear and 25 years of the Notre Dame Shakespeare festival by raising a glass with cast and crew, donors, and stalwart audience members from seasons past and present.
• POST-SHOW ACTOR Q&A: Immediately following both Friday night performances (8/22 and 8/29), Patricia George Decio Theater, FREE
  • Stay behind after the show to share your thoughts and questions with the actors.
• PRE-SHOW SEMINAR: August 23, 6:45pm, Regis Philbin Theatre, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, FREE
  • Conducted by Notre Dame’s Professor Peter Holland and Dr. Jennifer Birkett, this NDSF pre-show talk explores the themes and deep questions posed by King Lear to help you more fully enjoy the production.
• GALLERY STROLL WITH PROFESSOR PETER HOLLAND: August 30, 1:00pm, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, FREE
  • Come see Raclin Murphy’s newly displayed King Lear and Cordelia by 18th century Irish artist, James Barry, and hear from Peter Holland, McMeel Family Professor in Shakespeare Studies, about the afterlives of King Lear and how artists reimagined Shakespeare after his death.