Houston Shakespeare Festival’s
50th Season
The Bayou City’s Tribute to The Bard is Better than Ever
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”
In one of the most famous theatrical lines ever written, William Shakespeare suggests life is like a play, and everyone is an actor with their own unique and important role. It describes the transient nature of human existence and the idea that our actions are performed in front of an audience, literally and metaphorically.
There is perhaps no better way for the Houston Shakespeare Festival, the professional arm of the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance, to celebrate its 50th anniversary season than with a nod to those immortal words as it presents two of The Bard’s most beloved plays: “Romeo and Juliet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
“The excitement for this season pulses through our shops and rehearsal studios,” says Jack Young, HSF artistic director and acting professor at UH. “As we mark a half-century of the Houston Shakespeare Festival, we’re fueled by joy and gratitude for the nearly 2,000 actors and crew members that came before us, who forged this path that we’re continuing today.”
The Start of Something Special
“This above all: to thine own self be true.”
By all accounts, Sidney Berger, the longtime director of the University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance, was a true evangelist for Shakespeare. When he arrived at UH in 1969, he brought with him a vision to create a platform that not only celebrated Shakespeare’s timeless tales, but also provided a unique opportunity for his students to learn the craft of acting and design alongside seasoned professionals.
Sidney Berger, HSF founder and director of the UH School of Theatre & Dance
Sidney Berger, HSF founder and director of the UH School of Theatre & Dance
In 1975, he won the support of UH administrators and Miller Outdoor Theatre’s advisory board to produce two plays each summer that were completely free to the public, and the Houston Shakespeare Festival was born.
Cecil Pickett, acting professor at UH
Cecil Pickett, acting professor at UH
Helping Berger implement his vision was Cecil Pickett, another beloved acting professor at UH who mentored several soon-to-be famous actors, including Dennis and Randy Quaid, Brent Spiner and Brett Cullen. And his own daughter, Cindy Pickett.
“My father was really talented, but disciplined as well, even when I was in high school,” Pickett says. “He would make his acting students so mad until he got them to create the performance he was looking for. But they loved him for it.”
Cindy Pickett as Gertrude in HSF’s “Hamlet” in 2012
Cindy Pickett as Gertrude in HSF’s “Hamlet” in 2012
Pickett, who starred on the soap opera “Guiding Light” before gaining fame playing the mother of the ‘80’s most famous teenager, Ferris Bueller, appeared in several HSF productions during her time at UH, including a starring role as Gertrude in “Hamlet.” She says the collaborative relationship between Berger and her father was key to the festival’s early success.
“They complimented each other very well,” Pickett says. “My father was grateful to Sidney for bringing him on board and Sidney appreciated Cecil’s influence on the students and all of the talent he was bringing in. They had their issues, sometimes, but they were like family.”
“My father was really talented, but disciplined as well. He would make his acting students so mad until he got them to create the performance he was looking for. But they loved him for it.”
Unlike Cindy Pickett, Brett Cullen was not born to be an actor.
“Shakespeare is something you do to grow and challenge yourself, but it’s a hard way to make a living,” says Cullen, who graduated from UH in 1979 and continues to serve his alma mater as a member of the UH Board of Visitors. “Can you tell me one actor that’s made a career out of doing Shakespeare?”
Brett Cullen, actor
Brett Cullen, actor
Long before he was rescuing Tom Hanks and his crew from a failed moon mission in “Apollo 13” and infiltrating a group of plane crash survivors in the hit television series “Lost”, Cullen sharpened his acting skills on the HSF stage for four seasons.
“We had a lot of really good actors in those shows and it was like we were all one big family,” Cullen says. “The Houston Shakespeare Festival was a great experience for me and gave me an incredible amount of knowledge and strength in the sense that I knew I could do it.”
“The Houston Shakespeare Festival was a great experience for me and gave me an incredible amount of knowledge and strength in the sense that I knew I could do it.”
Cullen says it was a privilege to bring The Bard’s words to life each night and that he wouldn’t be the actor he is today without that experience.
“Sidney taught me a lot about the business, mostly in terms of how an actor survives and how to set goals,” Cullen said. “But Cecil gave me the bones to be the actor that I am today – how you walk, how you talk, what does your hair look like, those kinds of things – all the character stuff. Aaron Spelling would never hire me because I was a three-dimensional, full-blooded character, not just some pretty boy who read lines.”
Marc Masterson, actor, director
Marc Masterson, actor, director
Marc Masterson, another young actor who would go on to become one of the country’s most well-respected artistic directors, was there in the early days of HSF as well and says the mix of students and professionals in the productions is what he remembers most.
“You weren’t just performing for your peers, you were working with a number of people who were at different stages in their careers, but you were able to build this great ensemble,” Masterson says. “We were performing in front of thousands of people each night and you felt you were really part of something special. Not everyone has that opportunity. What a gift it was.”
The program for the inaugural Houston Shakespeare Festival in 1975
The program for the inaugural Houston Shakespeare Festival in 1975
Among the featured guests at HSF over the years was the dynamic husband-and-wife duo of Leah Gardiner and Seth Gilliam. Gardiner, an award-winning director, and Gilliam, star of hit television series such as “The Wire” and “The Walking Dead”, came to Houston in 2011 for “Othello” and returned two years later for “Antony and Cleopatra.”
“My fondest memory of that time was working with the students who were also in the productions. Their energy, passion and commitment reminded me of my own college days,” says Gilliam, says. “Houston will always have a special place in my heart because of those students and the HSF staff that treated us as family and made the experience so joyful.”
Seth Gilliam and Leah Gardiner on the set of "Othello"
Seth Gilliam and Leah Gardiner on the set of "Othello"
“HSF has a unique place in my heart because everyone who worked on those shows gave their all, leaving their egos at the door and creating this extraordinary playmaking process,” Gardiner says. “HSF was a very magical experience, and I miss it dearly.”
“My fondest memory of that time was working with the students who were also in the productions. Their energy, passion and commitment reminded me of my own college days. Houston will always have a special place in my heart because of those students and the HSF staff that treated us as family and made the experience so joyful.”
- Seth Gilliam -
The Perfect Venue
“Good company, good wine, good welcome can make good people.”
None of HSF’s success over the past half-century would have been possible without the partnership with Miller Outdoor Theatre. The venue in the heart of Houston’s Hermann Park, with its beloved hill and iconic proscenium stage, has hosted some of the world’s biggest plays, musicals and musicians over the years, and always for free.
For Sidney Berger, it was the perfect place to stage his festival.
“Nobody wanted to do anything in late July and early August outside at Miller, but Sidney saw it as an opportunity,” Young says. “It’s such a unique space, and he wanted to make sure Houston could have free Shakespeare in the park like every other major American city.”
Miller is much larger than the intimate indoor theaters where Shakespeare productions are typically staged. And while the size and scope do present challenges, they also create opportunities.
“Miller is my favorite theater to design for because you have this really big scale and you have to think about everything from the audience’s point of view, what is it going to look like sitting up on that hill,” says Jodie Daniels, a UH alumna and costume designer for HSF. “So it’s all about the details, the colors, the size, and how they mesh together visually for the audience. It’s like a unified piece of art on stage.”
Since its debut on August 8, 1975, the festival has entertained more than a million Houstonians who pack the pavilion or the grassy hill behind it with their blankets and picnic baskets. It’s the production team’s job to make sure there’s not a bad seat in the house.
Amelia Fischer, director
Amelia Fischer, director
“It’s such a unique experience, this hybrid of an indoor theater space with all the bells and whistles and high-tech possibilities while still being open to the outside,” says Amelia Fischer, a UH alumna and 12-year HSF veteran who will direct “Midsummer” this season. “Our actors and production team are having a lot of fun with it and they’re ready to put on something special.”
Passing the Torch
“Come what may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.”
The successful partnership of Sidney Berger and Cecil Pickett ended when Pickett retired in 1988. But the foundation he helped build is still going strong, and his influence still resonates today.
Sidney Berger remained at UH until 2009 and took his final bow on the HSF stage the following year.
“Sidney and Cecil built this incredible foundation and laid out a path for everyone so the show could go on,” Young says. “Because of their hard work and dedication, they left the festival in very good hands.”
Among those entrusted with carrying on the tradition was longtime UH theater professor Carolyn Boone who, in 1995, was hand-picked by Berger to be Pickett’s permanent replacement. Several of Boones former students eventually found success and critical acclaim, including Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons of “The Big Bang Theory” and Broadway actress Roxanne Hope.
“My job was to inspire the actors’ and crews’ imaginations to create a story that was more vivid and more revealing than any production of that play before it,” says Boone, who retired from HSF in 2009. “That is the goal and challenge of every director of every play, and certainly mine during my time at HSF.”
But it was up to Jack Young and Rob Shimko, who both arrived at UH in 2006, to guide HSF through the most challenging period in its history. In 2016, Shimko was named director of the School of Theatre & Dance and executive director of HSF, joining Young who was named artistic director. After several innovative and productive seasons, it all came to a screeching halt in 2020.
Rob Shimko (left), former UH professor and HSF executive director, and Jack Young (right), UH professor and HSF artistic director
Rob Shimko (left), former UH professor and HSF executive director, and Jack Young (right), UH professor and HSF artistic director
“We had already planned out that summer’s season when the COVID shutdowns began and we had to cancel,” Shimko says. “The next year, with great help from Cori Stevenson, our community outreach director, we were able to put on a film festival in lieu of live performances while working diligently behind the scenes to prepare for a full live return in 2022.”
And return, it did, with a renewed energy and focus that was evident in memorable performances of “King Lear” and “Cymbeline.” The Bard was back in a big way.
“One of HSF’s most important legacies is that is has been the first professional theater job for hundreds of emerging actors over the past 50 years,” Shimko says. “Having the ability to offer a contract to students who earn the opportunity is a tremendous benefit to the UH program and to the broader theater ecosystem in Houston.”
David Huynh and Laura Frye in "As You Like It" in 2019
David Huynh and Laura Frye in "As You Like It" in 2019
Laura Frye and Alan Brincks in "Macbeth" in 2023
Laura Frye and Alan Brincks in "Macbeth" in 2023
Alan Brincks and Patrick Fretwell in "Much Ado About Nothing" in 2023
Alan Brincks and Patrick Fretwell in "Much Ado About Nothing" in 2023
Wes Whitson in "King Lear" in 2022
Wes Whitson in "King Lear" in 2022
The Future is Bright
“What’s past is prologue.”
With the curtain ready to rise for the 2024 season, the HSF team is eager to build on festival’s remarkable legacy and is embracing the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
“The fact that the university and the city have been able to sustain this for 50 years speaks to the strong love and support of the arts in this community,” Fischer says. “Houston is way ahead of the curve, arts-wise, and I hope that continues.”
Sharon Ott, new director of the UH School of Theatre & Dance and HSF executive director
Sharon Ott, new director of the UH School of Theatre & Dance and HSF executive director
Sharon Ott, the new director of the School of Theatre & Dance and executive director of HSF who arrived just in time for opening night, is hoping to keep the momentum going.
“I am honored to be joining the University of Houston and the Houston Shakespeare festival at this important milestone in its history,” Ott says. ”We want to expand our reach, engage new audiences and foster a deeper appreciation for The Bard’s masterpieces. As we look forward to the next 50 years, we are ready to inspire and captivate generations to come with the enduring magic of Shakespeare.”
One of Shakespeare’s most famous quotes, “what’s past is prologue,” perfectly encapsulates the essence of the festival’s journey, suggesting that its history provides a strong foundation for an even more vibrant and successful future.
“HSF was, and still is, such a glorious gift to the city,” says Boone. “To think it all began with Dr. Berger’s love of Shakespeare and his vision and energy to share it with the people of Houston, and here we are 50 years later and still going strong.”
HSF at 50: By the Numbers
96 PLAYS PRODUCED
465 TOTAL PERFORMANCES
629 DIFFERENT ACTORS
(1,100 TOTAL APPEARANCS)
1,000,000+ TOTAL ATTENDANCE
The 50th Season:
A Celebration of Love
The 50th season of the Houston Shakespeare Festival is a season of love with two of The Bard’s most well-known and beloved plays, “Romeo and Juliet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“These are two of Shakespeare’s biggest plays so the 50th season seemed like the perfect time to do them,” Young said. “They’re also perfect compliments to each other, with the tragic love story of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and the love, magic and imagination of ‘Midsummer’.”
HSF 50th Season
August 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 (Bard Talk at 7:15 p.m., performance at 8:15 p.m.)
August 2, 4, 6 and 9 (Bard Talk at 7:15 p.m., performance at 8:15 p.m.)
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
“Romeo & Juliet” is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedies. Two star-crossed lovers, swept up by the hatred of their feuding families, believe their love is strong enough to overcome the violence around them.
Sophia Marcelle, who graduated from UH in 2022, plays Juliet and says she wasn’t intimidated by stepping into one of the most famous roles in the history of theater.
UH acting alumnus Kyle Clark stars as Romeo
UH acting alumnus Kyle Clark stars as Romeo
“It’s every actress’s dream to play Juliet, and getting to do so at a young age is very special,” Marcelle says. “And love has always been important in my life, and I think audiences will feel a lot of love in this production, not just between the characters but from the castmates as well.”
Another of the world’s most famous roles, Romeo, is being played by Kyle Clark, a 2018 UH graduate who is in his third season of HSF. Clark says audiences can expect incredible action in the well-choreographed sword fighting scenes, and he believes the play’s enduring message of love is very timely.
“You have characters that are fighting for a better life and hoping to find love against all odds,” Clark says. “I think that’s a good reminder for all of us that there is still some good that exists in the world, and you can find it even in the direst of circumstances.”
“This is our summer of love,” Young says. “What better way to celebrate than through the greatest love story ever told?”
UH acting alumna Sophia Marcelle stars as Juliet
UH acting alumna Sophia Marcelle stars as Juliet
Kyle Clark and Sophia Marcelle as Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet
Kyle Clark and Sophia Marcelle as Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet
Love in its Many Forms
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is Shakespeare’s beloved fairy tale of midsummer madness, an adventure into an enchanted forest filled with love, magic and mischief where fantastical dreams blur with reality.
For actress Laura Frye, a UH theater graduate and four-season veteran of HSF, the play is the perfect way to celebrate the festival’s 50th season.
UH alumna Laura Frye stars as Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
UH alumna Laura Frye stars as Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
“I think this production is going to be a feast for the eyes,” says Frye, who plays Titania, Queen of the Fairies. “It will feel a lot like when Dorothy went to Oz and walked into that Technicolor world, that is what ‘Midsummer’ feels like when we’re in the land of the fairies.”
Alan Brinks, a 2018 UH graduate who plays Titania’s husband Oberon, King of the Fairies, believes the uniqueness of the Miller Outdoor venue will enhance the experience for audiences.
“This performance of ‘Midsummer’ is special because it’s outside where Shakespeare makes so many references to natural things,” says Brinks, who plays Titania’s husband Oberon, King of the Fairies. “With the moon and stars, the trees, there’s a different connection to the material than if you were inside a small, closed-in theater.”
Director Amelia Fischer agrees and says of all the plays she’s directed, this may be her favorite.
“It doesn’t get much better than ‘Midsummer’ outside,” Fischer says. “We have designed a beautiful set with some truly incredible, vibrant costumes… it’s really everything you could ever want from this play.”
UH alumnus Alan Brincks stars as Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
UH alumnus Alan Brincks stars as Oberon in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Laura Frye and Alan Brincks as Titania and Oberon, Queen and King of the Fairies, in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Laura Frye and Alan Brincks as Titania and Oberon, Queen and King of the Fairies, in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
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