Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Celebrates 35th Anniversary with 2026 Summer Theatre Series

Tickets now on sale for nine productions spanning Shakespeare, musicals, and more at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has opened single-ticket sales for its 2026 Summer Theatre Series, themed "Legends and Legacy," in celebration of its 35th anniversary and 30 years as the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The season features nine productions including August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, the musical Million Dollar Quartet, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and more, running from May 27 through August 2.

Why it matters

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has become a cultural institution in the region, bringing high-quality theatrical productions to the Lehigh Valley for over three decades. This anniversary season celebrates the festival's legacy of artistic excellence and its role in preserving and reimagining classic stories for modern audiences.

The details

The 2026 Summer Theatre Series includes a diverse lineup of plays and musicals, with productions in rotating repertory on the Main Stage and Schubert Theatre. Highlights include August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Piano Lesson, the jukebox musical Million Dollar Quartet, and Shakespeare's timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The festival also features family-friendly programming, such as the new play Sheila the Magical and a touring production of As You Like It.

  • The 2026 Summer Theatre Series runs from May 27 through August 2.
  • Single-ticket sales for the season have opened as of February 13, 2026.

The players

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

A regional theater company that has been the official Shakespeare Festival of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 30 years, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026.

Jason King Jones

Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, who curated the 2026 Summer Theatre Series.

Casey William Gallagher

Managing Director of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival.

James Ijames

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright who will direct the production of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson.

Jim Helsinger

Artistic Director of Orlando Shakespeare Theater, who will direct the production of the musical Million Dollar Quartet.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This season's theme, 'Legends and Legacy,' celebrates the stories that have shaped our culture-from rock 'n' roll icons to literary titans like Shakespeare, Austen, and Wilson. On our stages, these legends invite us to examine the legacy that brought us here and envision the one we are building for the future.”

— Jason King Jones, Artistic Director, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (broadwayworld.com)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Full casting and creative teams for the 2026 Summer Theatre Series will be announced closer to the opening of the festival in May.

The takeaway

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 35th anniversary season celebrates the enduring power of classic stories and the festival's legacy as a cultural institution in the Lehigh Valley, offering a diverse lineup of productions that will entertain and inspire audiences of all ages.