From the Artistic Director

50 Years of CSF - Take Two!

Last year, we celebrated our 50th season of producing theatre on the campus of the University of Colorado. Now, in 2008, we're still celebrating our 50th anniversary. What gives?! Well, it's simple, really—2007 marked our 50th season, but since that first season was in 1958, this is really the anniversary. On August 2 of this year, we'll be able to stand on the Mary Rippon stage and say "50 years ago tonight, CSF presented its first performance" (the play was Hamlet, in case you're wondering).

And there is much to celebrate — in 2007, we added two productions, and saw a 28 percent increase in attendance — to over 37,000, our biggest season in many years. Ten percent of that audience was under 18 years of age—a significant increase from previous seasons. And our productions earned critical acclaim, garnering nine Denver Post Ovation Award nominations (and winning two).

In 2008 we again offer six productions, with something for everyone, including our first-ever musical, and the production of a Shakespeare play not seen on our stages since 1971. And I'll be taking to the stage in my first acting role for CSF, playing the title character in Macbeth—my third time playing that challenging role.

I hope to see you at the theatre again in 2008—and as always, we are ever-grateful for your ongoing support of CSF, the nation's second-oldest Shakespeare company.

Regards,

Philip Charles Sneed
Producing Artistic Director
Colorado Shakespeare Festival