***Single Tickets on Sale Monday, February 10***
Center Valley, PA: February 7, 2025—Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) announces that single ticket sales for its 2025 Summer Theatre Series go on sale beginning Monday, February 10. The season, crafted by Artistic Director Jason King Jones and Managing Director Casey William Gallagher, features nine productions, including two musicals, three Shakespeare works, shows in rotating repertory, touring performances, and children’s programming. Running from May 28 to August 3 at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the DeSales University campus, the series will also include performances throughout the Lehigh Valley.
The 2025 Summer Theatre Series features Shakespeare’s masterpiece Hamlet, performed in repertory with Tom Stoppard’s tragicomedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the lesser produced Timon of Athens, and a touring production of Much Ado About Nothing. Other highlights include Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking drama A Raisin in the Sun, alongside two musicals: Mel Brooks’ Tony Award-winning hit The Producers and the new musical Penelope.
“For an extraordinary community, we have assembled an extraordinary season,” said Jason King Jones, “one that includes powerful classics, show-stopping hits, and adventurous stories you won’t see anywhere else.”
The season kicks off in the Schubert Theatre with Penelope, a new one-woman musical co-produced with Philadelphia’s Theatre Horizon. Reimagining the ancient Greek epic The Odyssey from the perspective of Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, this production features original music and lyrics by Alex Bechtel and a book by Bechtel, Grace McClean, and Eva Steinmetz. Starring Rachel Camp, who reprises her performance following its run earlier this year at Theatre Horizon, along with Steinmetz, who returns to direct, the musical has been celebrated in productions at Joe’s Pub, The Public Theater, the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and Signature Theatre.
On the Main Stage, the season launches with Mel Brooks’ uproarious love letter to Broadway, The Producers. Following the comedic success of last season’s The Play That Goes Wrong, director Jennifer Childs returns to helm this production. She is joined by fan-favorite actors Scott Greer as Max Bialystock and Anthony Lawton as Franz Liebkind, both of whom delighted audiences in last summer’s hilarious hit. Making their PSF debut is Michael Doherty as Leo Bloom, a seasoned actor with over 70 regional theatre credits, including performances at Philadelphia’s The Wilma Theater, Arden Theatre Company, and People’s Light, as well as at the Guthrie Theater, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Denver Center.
Lorraine Hansberry’s award-winning drama A Raisin in the Sun takes center stage in the intimate Schubert Theatre. A landmark of American history, this story of hope, determination, and resilience is brought to life with humor, heart, and unforgettable characters. Festival favorite Akeem Davis (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Cymbeline) makes his PSF directorial debut, joined by returning actor Billie Wyatt (The Tempest, Sense & Sensibility) as Beneatha Younger.
The return of rotating repertory to the Main Stage pairs Shakespeare’s Hamlet with Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, offering a unique chance to experience Shakespeare’s masterpiece alongside Stoppard’s reimagining of its enigmatic side characters. Making their PSF debut is Biko Eisen-Martin as Hamlet, whose credits include performances at The Public Theater, The Old Globe, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Both productions feature a talented ensemble of returning actors, including Taysha Marie Canales, Sean Close, Eric Hissom, Ian Merrill Peakes, and Grace Gonglewski. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is directed by Jason King Jones, PSF’s Artistic Director, while Hamlet is helmed by Lindsay Smiling, Co-Artistic Director at Philadelphia’s The Wilma Theater.
Rounding out the summer season is Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens. For Shakespeare enthusiasts, this production offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the Bard’s lesser-known works live on stage. Presented in “Extreme Shakespeare” style, actors arrive with their lines learned, rehearse independently, and open within a matter of days. Longtime PSF favorite Greg Wood stars in the titular role, marking his 27th season with the Festival. Wood has played iconic roles such as Malvolio in Twelfth Night and the title roles in Hamlet, Richard III, and Cyrano de Bergerac. He is currently in rehearsals for Broadway’s Othello, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Denzel Washington.
This summer also offers abundant family programming. Audiences of all ages can enjoy free performances of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing through PSF’s “Play On!” Community Tour, bringing the comedy to libraries, parks, and community centers across the region. Additionally, enjoy The Princess and the Frog Prince, an adaptation of the Grimms’ fairy tale by Jones, directed by Jessica Bedford. Erin Sheffield’s beloved Shakespeare for Kids series, directed by Matt Pfeiffer, will also bring Hamlet to life for Festival audiences and through a community library tour.
“The artistry we’re bringing to the stage in 2025 is thrilling. We invite everyone to come together to be entertained, to escape into unforgettable stories, to connect with friends, and to celebrate the magic of live, professional theatre right here in the heart of the Lehigh Valley,” said Jones.
Single tickets are on sale beginning Monday, February 10 at 12am. Single tickets, subscriptions, and packages can be purchased online at pashakespeare.org, or by calling the box office at 610.282.WILL [9455], or in person at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of DeSales University, in Center Valley, PA.
The Festival’s 2025 Season Sponsors are Marilyn McDonald, MD and Joe Folger. The Associate Season Sponsors are Mary Bongiorno, Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth, Kathleen Kund Nolan and Timothy E. Nolan, Yvonne Payne and Edward Spitzer, The Szarko Family, and Harry C. Trexler Trust.
The season’s full casts and creative teams will be announced closer to its opening in May. Visit pashakespeare.org for the latest updates and announcements.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is the Lehigh Valley’s Professional Equity Theatre hosted on the campus of DeSales University.
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, features acclaimed actors from Broadway, television, and film, and is the summer home to over 200 artists from around the country, including winners and nominees of the Tony, Obie, Emmy, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Jefferson, and Barrymore Awards.
The 2025 Summer Theatre Series—
“Play On!” Community Tour – William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
May 30 to June 15 | Directed by Jason King Jones
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival’s “Play On!” Community Tour brings free performances of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to libraries, parks, and community centers all over the region.
On the Main Stage:
The Producers – June 11 to June 29
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks. Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan.
Directed by Jennifer Childs
Choreographed by Tara Jeanne Vallee
Adapted from Brooks’ 1967 film, this laugh-a-minute romp features larger-than-life characters, wickedly funny double entendres, and splashy show-stopping musical numbers. With a truly hysterical book co-written by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, The Producers proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender,” skewering Broadway traditions with enough chutzpah to fill Times Square!
Hamlet – July 9 to August 3
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Lindsay Smiling
Shakespeare’s masterpiece delves into the depths of human thought, revealing the darkness that lies beneath loyalty, love, and justice. Experience the pulse-pounding tension and psychological intrigue that have made this play endure for centuries. Hamlet will play in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead – July 17 to August 2
By Tom Stoppard
Directed by Jason King Jones
Lost in a Shakespearean drama they barely understand, two glorified extras from Hamlet stumble into the spotlight. Watch as our hapless heroes flip coins (which mysteriously keep landing heads), ponder the meaning of life (spoiler: they don’t figure it out), and wonder if they’re actually the main characters in someone else’s tragedy. Occasionally, the “real” play crashes their existential party, sending them into a panic of “Wait, which one am I again?” Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead will play in rotating repertory.
In the Schubert Theatre:
Penelope – May 28 to June 8
Music and Lyrics by Alex Bechtel.
Book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McClean, and Eva Steinmetz.
Based on writings in The Odyssey by Homer
Directed by Eva Steinmetz
A Co-production with Theatre Horizon
This witty musical flips the script on the dutiful wife history wants you to believe in—Penelope’s done being a footnote in her husband’s epic; this time, she’s writing her own odyssey. With soulful songs, razor-sharp storytelling, and an onstage band doubling as her modern-day Greek chorus, Penelope transforms the tale you thought you knew into a solo cabaret act like no other.
A Raisin in the Sun – June 25 to July 13
By Lorraine Hansberry
Directed by Akeem Davis
The members of the Younger family dream bigger than the cramped apartment where they live on the south side of Chicago. When a life-changing insurance check arrives, three generations are suddenly given the chance to turn their hopes into reality. As they navigate the complex landscape of 1950s America, the Younger family discovers that unity, resilience, and love can overcome even the toughest challenges in their pursuit of a better life.
Timon of Athens – “Extreme Shakespeare”
July 23 to August 3
By William Shakespeare
Timon of Athens, once the life of every party and generous benefactor, finds himself abandoned when his fortune runs dry. Betrayed by those he trusted most, his legendary generosity turns to seething rage, transforming him from Athens’ favorite host to its most dangerous outcast. Performed “Extreme Shakespeare” style—actors arrive with lines learned, rehearse on their own, and open within days. No directors. No designers. Just pure adrenaline and raw talent unleashed on Shakespeare’s blistering commentary on wealth and loyalty.
Children’s Theatre Productions:
The Princess and The Frog Prince | July 4 to August 2 | Schubert Theatre
By Jason King Jones | Based on the Grimms’ Fairy Tale | Directed by Jessica Bedford
This fresh spin on the classic tale follows a basketball-loving princess who’d rather shoot hoops than wait for Prince Charming. But when her ball rolls into a well, she meets an unlikely hero—a talking frog under a magical spell. As friendship sparks, the duo proves that sometimes your perfect match is the teammate you least expect.
Shakespeare for Kids (S4K) presents Hamlet | July 23 to August 2 | Main Stage
By Erin Sheffield | Directed by Matt Pfeiffer
A high energy one-hour production, S4K activates imaginations and generates laughs for the entire family. Using a combination of songs, puppets, and scenes from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, S4K provides families with the opportunity to introduce children to Shakespeare in a welcoming, super kid-friendly environment.
The Festival will host its annual Community Day event on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The event will take place on the mall and in front of the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts at DeSales University.
Artistic Leadership:
JASON KING JONES (Artistic Director) is excited to embark on his third year with PSF. In his first two seasons, Jason expanded the organization’s footprint to include the “Play On!” Community Tour, the launch of Shakespeare 4 Kids to libraries, and Community Day. Prior to moving to the Lehigh Valley with his family, Jason spent ten years at Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, where he served as Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players. In the past twenty-six years Jason has directed over seventy-five productions, mentored hundreds of early-career theatre makers, and established various in-school and summer educational programs. He is an Acting Company alumnus, a proud member of the PSF Board, the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit & Business Partners Council, and the Shakespeare Theatre Association’s Executive Committee. Jason holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Missouri State and an MFA in Directing from Boston University.
CASEY WILLIAM GALLAGHER (Managing Director) has worked at PSF for 26 seasons. Over the years he was a box office intern, a stage management intern, the assistant house manager, box office manager, company manager, assistant producer, director of development and worked directly with PSF Founder Jerry Schubert in the early years of the organization. Since 2004, in his role as general manager and later managing director, he served as the administrative leader of the Festival, working very closely with former Producing Artistic Director Patrick Mulcahy and the box office, business, development, marketing and production departments. Since 2023, Casey is co-leader of the Festival with Artistic Director Jason King Jones. Beyond PSF, Casey was treasurer for the Shakespeare Theatre Association, director of audience services for The People’s Light & Theatre Company, a board member for Civic Theatre of Allentown, a peer panelist for the New Jersey Council on the Arts and a judge for the Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for excellence in theatre.
Information provided to TVL by:
Tina Louise Slak
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
