TCU students get theatrical practice at Trinity Shakespeare Festival

The festival runs through July 1 on the TCU campus.

Shakespeare returns to TCU Tuesday night with the start of the Trinity Shakespeare Festival. TCU students are getting real world experience such as lighting and costuming while working with the professionals.

Students work long hours and get to learn more about how a professional production operates, said Sarah Hagen, a senior theatre major.

“This is a good chance [for students]to work with outside people and to bring in more experience,” said Jim Rogers, a senior theatrical design major.

The opportunity also builds on other real world skills.

“It teaches us a lot about how a show works and how to better manage time,” Hagen said.

The fourth season on campus, the festival will feature The Merchant of Venice and The Merry Wives of Windsor. This summer, the festival will feature people such as David Coffee as Sir John Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Trisha Miller as Portia and Brent Alford as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.

Tuesday night, The Merry Wives of Windsor will be performed on campus by the troupe as a preview with a special “Pay-What-You-Can” pricing. Wednesday night, The Merchant of Venice will also be priced the same. Information on location and time of both performances can be found below.

Opening night will be Thursday, June 14 for The Merry Wives of Windsor and Friday, June 15 for The Merchant of Venice. The schedule will alternate through July 1.

“You should definitely go,” Hagen said. “They work hard and it sounds fabulous.”

Special discount nights for Trinity Shakespeare Festival:

June 12 and June 13 are “Pay-What-You-Can” previews. June 12’s performance will be held in Marlene and Spencer Hays Theatre in the Walsh Performing Arts Center. June 13’s performance will be in the Jerita Foley Buschman Theatre in Ed Landreth Hall. June 20 and June 27 are “Ten Dollar Wednesdays,” and all tickets are $10 for those performances. All adult and senior tickets will be discounted $5 for opening week performances on June 14-16. Complete performance schedule is as follows:

The Merry Wives of Windsor

June 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 28, 30 at 7:30 p.m.

June 24 at 2:30 p.m.

The Merchant of Venice

June 13, 15, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29 at 7:30 p.m.

June 17 and July 1 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets and schedules are available online. The Trinity Shakespeare Festival Box Office is located in Ed Landreth Hall at the corner of Cantey and Rogers. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors (65 and up), $15 for TCU Faculty & Staff, and $10 for students. The box office phone number is 817-257-8080.