Pablo Center at the Confluence introduces the Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival, producing its inaugural season during the summer of 2023.

The festival will feature an exquisite blend of artistic and educational endeavors, including a mainstage production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” a new works series, a young performers troupe, various workshop classes open to the public, and more.

Schedule of Events:

JUNE 8-11, 2023

ECCT: SOMETHING ROTTEN

Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten. Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway, brought to you by local community theatre, the Eau Claire Children’s Theatre.

JULY 6-16, 2023

Mainstage: A Midsummer Night's Dream

Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival kicks off its inaugural summer season with an incredible production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream!" Performed in the Jamf Theatre on a set that is a replica of Shakespeare's Globe in London and featuring a cast of professional and local actors, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's classic comedies; a story of order and disorder, reality and appearance, and love and marriage. Audiences of all ages will enjoy the story which features lovers lost in the forest, a royal wedding, mystical sprites and fairies, a comedic troupe of Mechanicals, and a mischievous trickster named Puck.

Location: Jamf Theatre

Tickets are $27 plus taxes and fees. Youth under 13 are $4.50 plus taxes and fees. Student tickets are $7.50 plus taxes and fees. Senior tickets are $19.50 plus taxes and fees.

July 11, 2023

5:00 pm: Art and Ideas: JT Stocks

Presented in partnership with LE Phillips Memorial Public Library JT Stocks (UWEC Theatre alum & WSF mainstage actor) will be diving in depth into the fascinating history of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, from its modest beginnings, to its now iconic influence. This event is free and open to the public, though preregistration is required.

Location: Jamf Theatre

July 13, 2023

5:30pm to 7:00pm: Shakes-Beer

Join us for an evening of revelry at Shakes-BEER! The event will be held pre-show to our production of A Midsummer Night's Dream from 5:30pm to 7:00pm in our Gibson Street Entry on July 13th and includes flight tastings from Bloomer Brewing Co., Brewery Nonic, Lazy Monk, and Modicum Brewery.

Drink, eat, and be merry!

Location: Robert Manz Gibson Street Entry

July 15, 2023

1:00-4:00 p.m: Arts and Ideas: Acting Workshops

We invite you to join some of our professional mainstage actors for some theatre workshops designed for you! First, Lauren Rosemurgy (playing Helena in "Midsummers") will run a session on improv from 1:00-2:30, followed by Whitney Nelson (playing Titania in "Midsummers") leading a workshop on auditioning tips & tricks starting at 2:30. Both will be fully interactive sessions, with plenty of opportunities to get on your feet and practice your craft. These workshops are presented completely free of charge for folks of all ages, and attendees may elect to stay for both sessions back-to-back or just attend one or the other. Preregistration requested.

Location: PCC 327 rehearsal room

July 17, 2023

6:00 PM: Arts and Ideas with Whitney Nelson

Whitney Nelson, a professional actor in Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will be helping us to answer the question, "why William?" as she contextualizes Shakespeare's works within the modern age, as well as revealing the benefits and challenges that come with it.

Location: Riverview Room, LE Phillips Memorial Public Library

July 26, 2023

6:00 PM: Arts and Ideas with Elizabeth Parks

Join Elizabeth Parks, a director, and dramaturg of Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival’s new works series Improbable Fiction, as she provides insider insight on the vision and creative process for these shows, as well as what it takes to bring a brand new work to life. This event is free of charge and open to the public, though preregistration is required.

Location: Riverview Room, LE Phillips Memorial Public Library

July 29 - 30, 2023

Improbable Fiction: A New Works Series

Improbable Fiction is a new works series presented by Wisconsin Shakespeare Festival. Local playwrights from across the region to across the globe were invited to submit one-act plays in one of three categories: Young Voices (for playwrights ages 16-24), Diverse Perspectives (for playwrights who identify as BIPOC), or Shakes-pired (for works related to or inspired by Shakespeare's life or plays).

A panel of adjudicators selected the top play in each category, which will be presented onstage for an audience as either a staged reading or full-staged production. All three works will be presented on each performance day with opportunities to meet the cast and team - you won't want to miss this world premiere event!

Location: Jamf Theatre

Fest Date: June 8 - July 29, 2023

Location: Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701

Click here for more information.