Festival History
The idea of a free, outdoor Shakespeare festival in St. Louis began in 1997, inspired by R. Crosby Kemper, III. It was realized by community volunteer Lana Pepper, who became its first Managing Director, Chairman of the Board Marvin Moskowitz, and a visionary board of civic and corporate leaders. The founding mission—to produce professional Shakespeare theatre, outdoors in a city park, free and for a diverse audience, and to provide education through schools and community outreach—led board members to select Forest Park as the home for the Festival. Romeo & Juliet debuted under the stars in the spring of 2001 to more than 33,000 people. As the audience grew, the run was expanded to four weeks. The Festival is the only free, outdoor, professional theatre in the St. Louis area, employing renowned national and regional directors, designers and actors for the benefit of the community.
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis received 501(c)3 status in December of 1999. In the fall of 2000, Robert Townsend was engaged as Producing Director, and Marvin Moskowitz became Chairman of the Board. With Rob Townsend’s move from St. Louis, Dawn McAndrews joined as Artistic Director from July 2007-June 2009. To lead the Festival into its second decade, Rick Dildine was appointed as Executive Director in September, 2009. Terry Schnuck served as Board Chair from 2006-2008, followed by current Chair Mont Levy.
Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has entertained, enlightened and educated more than 500,000 people in the last ten years (the 10th Anniversary production of Hamlet welcomed record audiences of 56,000), and has reached over 200,000 students of all ages through our Education Tour, Metro Youth Shakespeare, camps, classes, residencies and workshops.
The Festival’s 10th Anniversary production of Hamlet welcomed record audiences of 56,000. Pre-performance Green Shows offered performances by local musicians, singers and dancers, lectures showcased scholars from area universities, and our 20-minute adaptation introduced the plot and characters to children of all ages.
ore than 500,000 people in the last ten years (the 10th Anniversary production of Hamlet welcomed record audiences of 56,000), and has reached over 200,000 students of all ages through our Education Tour, Metro Youth Shakespeare, camps and classes and residencies and workshops.
Plays produced include Romeo and Juliet (2001), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2002), Macbeth (2003), As You Like It (2004), The Tempest (2005), Julius Caesar (2006), Much Ado About Nothing (2007), The Tragedy of King Richard the Third (2008), The Merry Wives of Windsor (2009) and Hamlet (2010), with The Taming of the Shrew slated for 2011.