School is back in session, pumpkin spice is suddenly everywhere, and our theater partners across the United States are offering exciting new productions—and a few continuing ones, too. Check out what’s playing this month. What are you planning to see?
At the Folger
While Folger Theatre is rehearsing Romeo and Juliet, onstage October 1 through November 10, our early music-ensemble-in-residence, Folger Consort kicks off the season this weekend, September 13–15, with Tale of Two Cities: Music of Florence and Venice. A trio of free events round out the month: Folger Fridays Presents: Craft Your Power, on Friday, September 20, with stations throughout the building featuring basket weaving, painting, origami, bracelet making, and much more, plus live jazz and snacks and drinks; the next morning, Saturday, September 21, our younger visitors, ages 5–7 at 11:30am and ages 8–14 at 1pm, are invited to join Folger Education for a Family Workshop: United States of Shakespeare, an exploration of how Shakespeare’s works inspired some of America’s greatest thinkers; and on Saturday, September 28, a panel conversation, Silenced Voices, Banned Books, held during the America Library Association’s annual Banned Book week, explores how the banning of books in schools—especially those focused on race, antiracism, and LGBTQIA+ topics—affect today’s students.
Around the country
Don’t miss performances by these theater partners: African-American Shakespeare Company is touring From One to Another: Homage to the Legacy of Maya Angelou with performances at San Francisco libraries through September 19; Classical Theatre of Harlem performs the world premiere of Memnon at the Getty in Los Angeles through September 28; Idaho Shakespeare Festival shows Always… Patsy Cline through September 29; and performances of Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise begin September 26 at Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Atlanta Shakespeare Company
The Canterbury Tales, in an adaptation by John Stephens that draws on the Celtic British influences of Geoffrey Chaucer’s writing, performs through September 29. This hilarious adaptation reintroduces the tales— The Miller’s Tale, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The Pardoner’s Tale, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale, The Merchant’s Tale, and The Reeve’s Tale—in sketch comedy form with themes ranging from classical to spaghetti Western and a whole lot of modern surprises thrown in!
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
The new season is opening with August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by Kenyatta Rogers. This production is part of Baltimore’s August Wilson Celebration, a multi-year collaboration between Baltimore’s theater community to produce all 10 plays of Wilson’s American Century Cycle in chronological order. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone runs from September 20 through October 13.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Performances of Shakespeare’s gripping tale of youthful ambition and adventure, Henry V, run through October 6. From its evocative opening line, “O for a Muse of Fire,” the play includes some of Shakespeare’s most famous speeches and stirring poetry. CST Artistic Director Edward Hall explores the thrill and destructive power of war, examining nationalism at its most dangerous and seductive. Recent Juilliard School graduate Elijah Jones, making his CST debut in the title role, leads a powerhouse ensemble.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has been cooking up something special with Fat Ham, onstage now through September 22. In this sweet and spicy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Juicy, a queer Black man, finds himself at a barbeque with his family and friends. But here’s the rub: the barbeque is a wedding reception for his mother and his uncle. When the ghost of Juicy’s father appears, demanding vengeance for his murder, Juicy learns revenge is a dish best served “char-cold.”
Gamut Theatre Group
Popcorn Hat Players are performing Sleeping Beauty from September 18 through October 5. Loosely based on the beloved classic, this adaptation features a bumbling and fumbling Narrator-Turned-Prince, as he tries his best to rise to heroic heights to save the Princess and the sleeping village caught in the spell cast by Fairy Sour Puss! Plus TMI Improv Comedy Troupe performs on September 27.
The Old Globe
The Old Globe welcomes the spooky season with two classic adaptations. Embark on a glamorous and enthralling journey with Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, adapted by Tony Award–nominated playwright Ken Ludwig, playing through October 13. Celebrate Halloween with a new side-splitting adventure based on Bram Stoker’s classic tale that’s sure to induce blood-curdling screams—of laughter! Don’t miss Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen and directed by Greenberg, September 20–October 27.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Coriolanus continues through October at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Experience the intensity of Shakespeare’s Roman tragedy in a modern translation by Sean San José, directed by Rosa Joshi. Featuring a cast of female and non-binary actors, this powerful production explores ambition and fragile democracy, resonating during an election year.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, in partnership with the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department, is extending its 2024 Free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest and performing for the first time at Sue Bierman Park, located at Drumm and Washington Streets, just north of Embarcadero Plaza across from the iconic Ferry Building. Free performances take place Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm on September 14–15 and 21–22. No ticket or reservation needed.
Shakespeare Dallas
Et tu, Brute? Shakespeare Dallas performances of Julius Caesar start September 13 and continue through October 13. This classic Shakespearean tragedy is directed by Katie Ibrahim. It runs Thursday–Sunday at the Samuell-Grand Amphitheater, with picnicking encouraged and beer and wine allowed. Gates open at 7pm and the show begins at 8pm.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
Romance blossoms this month at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey with Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility running through September 22 on The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre stage. Lose yourself in this beautiful adaptation by Jessica Swale and fall in love with this masterful classic of heart, mind, and sisterhood.
Theatricum
The 2024 Summer Repertory Season continues with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, alongside The Winter’s Tale, Wendy’s Peter Pan, Tartuffe: Born Again, and The Hispanic / Latino / Latina / Latinx / Latine Vote, running through the end of October. The Under the Oaks Concert series is back, with Hills Like White Elephants (September 13); Composer Collective (September 20), and A Tribute to Bob Dylan (September 27). Located in Topanga Canyon in the shade of the California Live Oaks, theatergoers can explore and picnic in the gardens before the show.
African-American Shakespeare Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Classical Theatre of Harlem, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Folger Theatre, Gamut Theatre Group, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, The Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare Dallas, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and Theatricum are members of the Folger’s Theater Partnership Program.
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