With pandemic restrictions lifted live theatre performances are returning with this year’s Phoenix Festival.

For 30 years live Shakespeare has been a tradition in the community, and with last year’s COVID restrictions, many performances were held virtually.

The Phoenix Festival is a celebration of the return of live theatre performances in the community. Four different groups are coming together to present seven events throughout July and August: Bridgeway Theatre Company, Hope Theatre Arts, Liminal Space, and the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival. The festival will be held at The MAIN in Newhall.

“We are thrilled to be in front of audiences again,” says David Stears, executive director for Santa Clarita Shakespeare “Even more exciting is the group of different theatre companies coming together to create this year’s summer theatre festival.”

The festival includes free Shakespeare performances, a musical, a world premiere of an original work, a family piece, a spoken work event, and a contemporary play. This year’s festival will be held at The MAIN in downtown Newhall.

Kicking off the festival weekend will be the annual special event, Court of the Lord Chamberlain, honoring patrons of the arts in our community. This year honors three individuals that have helped shape the support for the arts and arts programming through the City: Michael Marks, Sean Morgan, and Phil Lantis. The event will be held on Saturday, July 17, and will include food, wine, and the ceremony.

The festival also includes a spoken word/ poetry event open to local poets and performers. OUT OF THE ASHES: An evening of transformation, resilience, and hope. Poets, lyricists, and spoken word performers interested in participating can submit an application at Tinyurl.com/swscvinterestform. The event will be Sunday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The productions for the Phoenix Festival include:
RED BIKE by Caridad Svich, presented by Liminal Space
TRAIL TO OREGON the StarKid musical presented by Bridgeway Theatre Co
VELVETEEN RABBIT by Janet Allard presented by HOPE Theatre Arts
OUT OF TOUCH a world premiere by Randall Greenwald presented by Santa Clarita Shakespeare Shakespeare’s MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, presented by Santa Clarita Shakespeare

The Phoenix Festival runs from July 17 through August 15. For more information and ticket information, visit www.scshakespearefest.org/phoenix-festival. The Phoenix Festival is this year’s summer theatre festival, coordinated and produced by the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival.