SUMMER OF LOVE (and Laughs): ‘As you like it’ takes the stage at Ogden’s first Shakespeare festival

NEWS

From left to right: Orlando (George Michael Edwards III), Rosalind as Ganymede (Abigail Ford), Celia as Aliena (Natalie Lichfield), and Touchstone (Andrew Barrett Watson). Photo courtesy of Ogden Shakespeare Festival

Ogden, UT –  Ogden Shakespeare Festival is coming to Northern Utah, kicking off with a unique production of “As You Like It.” The debut festival will run from July 19-21 at 8 p.m. at the Ogden Amphitheater, offering three nights of William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy under the stars. 

The play will be performed in traditional Shakespeare style – without microphones – but with a spin. “Uniquely presented in the style of the late 1960s, the play draws parallels between the era's revolutionary spirit and themes of breaking free from societal constraints,” festival director Jennifer Hughes said in a press release.

Hughes chose “As You Like It” for the debut because it is not as commonly produced as other Shakespearean works and features a female protagonist – a rarity for the playwright. 

The play follows Rosalind, who disguises herself as a man to find safety and authenticity in the Forest of Arden.

“As You Like It” explores themes of nature, self-discovery, and gender identity. “Shakespeare was so ahead of his time,” Hughes said. “These are things we are grappling with today.” 

Photos provided by Ogden Shakespeare Festival

The play is not a musical, but it will include songs. Audiences will hear the folk sounds of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in this 1967 adaptation of the Shakespearean comedy.

The cast of local and Salt Lake Area actors includes Abigail Ford (Rosalind as Ganymede), George Michael Edwards III (Orlando), Andrew Barrett Watson (Touchstone), and Natalie Lichfield, (Celia as Aliena).

A rendering of the set design by JD Madsen. Image provided by Ogden Shakespeare Festival

The Ogden Amphitheater stage will be transformed into a scenic forest designed by JD Madsen. Attendees may bring blankets and picnic baskets to enjoy the sloped lawn or choose one of the 273 fixed seats inside the amphitheater on Historic 25th Street.

Ogden Shakespeare Festival is a nonprofit organization founded in 2023 by Hughes. The festival’s mission is “empowering our vibrant and diverse community by building a legacy of accessible, joyous, and thought-provoking theatre experiences that promote and preserve classical works, while inviting and celebrating the voices of new participants.” 

Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit ogdenshakesfest.org.