Shakespeare Festival St. Louis

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis’ production of The Winter’s Tale will be performed nightly June 2-25 (excluding Tuesdays) at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. Preview performances are scheduled May 31 and June 1. This is the festival’s 17th season of producing free performances of Shakespeare’s work in an outdoor setting.

Written in approximately 1610, the play is considered to be one of a group of Shakespeare’s plays that are vaguely defined by their tragic undertones and simultaneous use of straightforward comic situations. The play contains Shakespeare’s most famous and challenging stage direction: ‘Exit, pursued by a bear” in Act 3, Scene 3. Whether the Bard meant to use a real bear or an actor in a costume is a directive that has been debated for centuries. Either way, the pursued (Antigonus) and the bear are not seen again after their exit.   

As in previous years, the pre-show festivities will include a nightly Green Show at 6:30 p.m., backstage tours before each performance, and a craft area for kids, among other activities. Seating for The Winter’s Tale is available on the open lawn. Rental chairs are also available. Please visit www.sfstl.com, or call 314-531-9800, for additional information.