Michigan Shakespeare Festival Returns!

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, the official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan, announced the return of its Main Stage Festival Season to The Village Theater at Cherry Hill for its 2022 Renaissance Season this summer!

The festival will take place July 19 - August 21 at The Village Theater, located at 50400 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, MI. Featuring performances of Henry V, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Brandon Thomas' Charley's Aunt. Find performance synopses of each of the featured plays, as well as the festival performance schedule below.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival on stage photo

Check Out This Sneak Peek of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival HERE!

Get your tickets to HENRY V here!

Henry V

Focusing on the events prior to and following the famous Battle of Agincourt, HENRY V tells the story of one of Britain's greatest kings - and the man behind the title. The final piece of Prince Hal's story first played out in HENRY IV, parts 1 & 2 (Award-Winning MSF production from 2015) where we saw the wild and angry young man as he grew into a leader of men. One of Shakespeare's most famous histories, HENRY V features some of the most known scenes and speeches in the cannon.
Directed by MSF Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt.

NOTE: Proof of vaccination and the wearing of face masks are required based on Actors’ Equity Association safety protocols.

Get your tickets to The Merry Wives of Windsor here!

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Mistress Page and Mistress Ford have a very large problem - a drunken rogue who wont leave them alone. Sir John Falstaff is short of money and on the hunt for a lady willing to take him on and pay his bills. The ladies get together and hatch a hilarious plan to thwart the pest - if only their husbands are able to stay out of the way. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR is famously the result of Queen Elizabeth I demanding that Shakespeare write a play featuring Falstaff (from HENRY IV, parts 1 & 2) falling in love - and how else could such a request play out?

NOTE: Proof of vaccination and the wearing of face masks are required based on Actors’ Equity Association safety protocols.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival - Charley's Aunt

Get your tickets to Charley's Aunt here!

Brandon Thomas' Charley's Aunt

Jack and Charley have fallen in love with Kitty and Amy - who are being sent away to Scotland by Amy's Uncle - who is also Kitty's guardian. The guys invite their loves to lunch - where they intend to declare their intentions and to meet Charley's slightly eccentric Aunt Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez. What follows is a wacky, silly, romantic comedy full of starchy relatives, clever servants, and Lord Fancourt Babberley. CHARLEY'S AUNT was a sensation upon opening, running 1,466 performances - come take a break this summer and join us for the mayhem. Adapted and directed by Blixt.

The third show on the MSF calendar is always a classical play from a playwright other than Shakespeare.

NOTE: Proof of vaccination and the wearing of face masks are required based on Actors’ Equity Association safety protocols.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival 2022 Season Performance Schedule:

JULY 2022:

HENRY V (PREVIEW) - July 19 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V (PREVIEW) - July 20 at 7:30 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (PREVIEW) - July 21 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V (OPENING NIGHT) - July 22 at 7:30 PM (Patrons can enjoy complimentary Beer and Wine options; plus next season's lineup will be unveiled)

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (PREVIEW) - July 23 at 2:00 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR (OPENING) - July 23 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V - July 24 at 3:00 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT (PREVIEW) - July 28 at 7:30 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT (PREVIEW) - July 29 at 7:30 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - July 30 at 2:00 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT (OPENING) - July 30 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V - July 31 at 3:00 PM

AUGUST 2022:

CHARLEY'S AUNT - August 10 at 2:00 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT - August 11 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V - August 12 at 7:30 PM

HENRY V - August 13 at 2:00 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - August 13 at 2:00 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - August 14 at 3:00 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - August 17 at 2:00 PM

HENRY V - August 18 at 7:30 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT - August 19 at 7:30 PM

THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR - August 20 at 2:00 PM

HENRY V - August 20 at 7:30 PM

CHARLEY'S AUNT - August 21 at 3:00 PM

Please note: Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

PATRON TIPS

TICKET PURCHASING:
New Box Office hours are Tuesday & Wednesday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Thursday & Friday evenings 4 - 8 p.m. Box Office is closed on all major holidays.

Tickets can be purchased anytime from our website www.cantonvillagetheater.org. Tickets can also be ordered during regular Box Office Hours, in person, or over the phone, 734/394-5300 x2, with a credit card, or you are welcome to leave a message and our staff will return your call. If tickets are available, they can also be purchased 1 hour prior to program time. Our current ticketing system is completely electronic; confirmations and seating will be sent directly to your email and/or mobile phone. No physical ticket is required for seating. Check-In with the ushers at seating time using your electronic confirmation and name.

BOX OFFICE HOURS: The Village Theater Box Office has resumed regular Box Office hours that are Tuesday & Wednesday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Thursday & Friday evenings 4 - 8 p.m. Box Office is closed on all major holidays.

THE GALLERY AT CHERRY HILL HOURS AND FACILITY TOUR: Please visit our monthly art exhibits or take a tour in person during our gallery hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Thursday & Friday 4 p.m - 8 p.m (closed on all major holidays). The Gallery at Cherry Hill is also open during public performances or by special appointment arranged via email to elli.fassois@cantonmi.gov.

BUILDING TEMPERATURE: The temperature in the auditorium is set to be between 68 and 72 degrees. Patrons who find these temperatures chilly are encouraged to dress accordingly or bring a wrap/jacket.

MSF's Renaissance!

The Michigan Shakespeare Festival (MSF), like many professional arts organizations, went dark due to COVID,, which is why Artistic Director Janice L. Blixt says the entire organization is looking upon 2022 as a Renaissance - a true rebirth - for the Michigan Shakespeare Festival. For the first time in their 27-year history, the MSF will be performing their entire run at The Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton. "We're are so pleased that our home in Canton is welcoming us back for 2022, and we're thrilled to be able to rehearse, tech, and open our shows at The Village Theater," Blixt said. The three Main Stage shows will be the heroic and epic drama HENRY V, featuring Ann Arbor native and Festival Favorite, Sam Hubbard as the king, the bubbly bright comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR being directed by award-winning Artistic Associate Robert Kauzlaric, and the silly farce CHARLEY'S AUNT by Brandon Thomas featuring Alyn Jones.

The 2022 Season is being partially supported by the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts Art Works Program.

The Village Theater at Cherry Hill

50400 Cherry Hill Road
Canton, Michigan 48188
www.cantonvillagetheater.org
734/394-5300